Malta Libraries launches its new brand

This year’s World Book Day and National Libraries Day mark an important event for Malta Libraries. Malta Libraries is celebrating this day by launching its new brand. Since its inception as an entity in 2011 through the Malta Libraries Act, it has worked at remaining a positive force in society by redefining its role and ensuring libraries remain relevant and sustainable. Branding will give the entity better visibility as well as the professional status it deserves.

In recent years Malta Libraries has looked afresh at the role of the National Library. While its main purpose to collect, preserve and make available the country’s publications to support learning and research remain unchanged, its redefined purpose is to widen access for all who can use and benefit from its collections, expertise and service. The same efforts are being made to ensure Public Libraries continue to be more viable by promoting reading through a diversity of activities and extending its library services to people with visual impairment, mobility issues and learning difficulties. Gone are the days where libraries just performed as book stores where the librarian stood at the counter to ‘check-in’ and ‘check-out’ books. The librarian is now an information mentor, while the library has been transformed into a community centre where people meet and have free access to knowledge, information and culture.

All this could be possible through good teamwork and motivation. Malta Libraries recognises that all its staff members are important for the whole organisation, and together they are driving the entity to another level. This branding exercise will help staff members to feel part of a professional larger organisation and direct their motivation effort towards providing a better service for the public.

This branding exercise would be the initial step to change the political and people’s perspective on libraries. Malta Libraries’ objective is to continue to extend or alter services and invest in new technologies to support sustainable educational development, while also preserving our national written heritage. The importance of libraries and access to information on sustainable development goals was also mentioned by IFLA (2015) for the UN 2030 Agenda since they help to promote literacy and skills; assist the government, the community and businesses to understand local information needs; provide access to a network of government programmes and services; support digital inclusion through ICT access; offer research services; and help to preserve and provide access to the world’s culture and heritage.