Ministry of Education and National Culture reminds Authors, Editors and Printers of their obligations

The Minister of Education and National Culture would like to bring the contents of the Public Libraries Ordinance (Chapter 92 of the Laws of Malta) to the notice of authors, editors and printers.

Among other obligations is the stated requirement:

"The author of every work printed and published in Malta shall within three months from publication thereof deliver free of charge a copy of such work to the National Library of Malta and another copy of the Gozo Public Library."

This notice is being given because it has been observed that certain authors of books and editors of periodicals have not been observing the law. It is the duty of the National Library to preserve all local publications for present and future generations. To do so it needs to receive a copy of all published items. The law stipulates that those who fail to comply shall be liable to a fine.

Publications so deposited at the National Library are included in the Maltese National Bibliography which is published on an annual basis.