MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY  [ S.L.92.06 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 92.06
MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY REGULATIONS 
26th February, 1974
LEGAL NOTICE 21 of 1974, as amended by Legal Notices 13 of 1981
and 23 of 1989.
Title.
Regulations.
Interpretation.
requires-
"borrower" means the holder of a ticket;
"library" means the Malta Public Library at Beltisseb ] and
includes any branch of such library and the rooms, offices,
staircases, entrances and exits forming part of such library or of
any branch thereof;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Public Libraries;
"ticket" means a borrower’s ticket issued to a person under
regulation 7 of these Regulations permitting him to borrow books
from the library.
Divisions of 
library.
3. (1) The library may be divided into an adult division and a
junior division and each of such divisions may comprise a lending
section and a reference section.
(2) The Librarian may set aside any of the books of the library
for use in the adult or in the junior division or for use in the lending
or in the reference section.
(3) Except with the permission of the Librarian a person under
fourteen years of age shall not enter or use the adult division.
Times during 
which library is 
open to the public.
Amended by:
L.N. 13 of 1981;
L.N. 23 of 1989.
4. (1) The library shall be open to the public as follows:-
( a ) From the 1st October of any year to the 15th June of
the next following year:
Monday to Friday from 8.30a.m. to 5.45 p.m.
Saturday - from 8.30a.m. to 1.15p.m.
( b ) From the 16th June to the 30th September of any year:
From Monday to Saturday - from 8.30a.m. to
1.15p.m.
(2) The library will be closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and
public holidays.
(3) The Librarian may, with the Minister’s approval, direct that
the library or any part thereof be closed for any specific period not
exceeding fifteen consecutive days.
Holder of ticket 
may borrow books.
5. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, a person
who is the holder of a ticket may borrow from the lending section
of the library books for reading or other use outside the library. 
2 [ S.L.92.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY 
Application to 
become a 
borrower.
6. A person desiring to become a borrower shall complete an
application form supplied by the Librarian for that purpose. 
Borrowers’ tickets. 7. (1) Following the application, the applicant may be issued
with such number of borrower’s tickets permitting him to borrow
books from the library as may be determined from time to time by
the Librarian.
(2) A ticket shall be issued to a person who -
( a ) satisfies the Librarian that he is a permanent resident
in Malta, and 
( b ) satisfies the Librarian as to his identity.
(3) Tickets may be issued to any other person at the discretion
of the Librarian.
Person may be 
required to make 
deposit or to 
produce a 
guarantor.
8. Before issuing a ticket under regulation 7, the Librarian
may require the applicant to deposit with the library in respect of
each ticket issued to him such sum of money not exceeding five liri
as the Librarian may determine or to produce some other person as
his guarantor.
Applicants under 
eighteen years of 
age.
9. (1) A ticket shall not be issued to an applicant who is
under eighteen years of age unless some other person who is
eighteen years of age or over becomes guarantor for the applicant.
(2)  Except where both parents are dead or are unwilling or
unable to become guarantor, or where the Librarian directs
otherwise, the person who shall be guarantor under sub-regulation
(1) of this regulation shall be a parent of the applicant.
Guarantor. 10. (1) A guarantor shall complete and sign the form of
guarantee provided for the purpose by the Librarian which form
shall contain such conditions as the Librarian may from time to
time determine.
(2) The guarantor shall, in default of the borrower, be liable
for any sum which may become due to be paid by the borrower
under regulation 25 in respect of any book borrowed from a lending
section of the library, and his guarantee shall remain in force until
he is released or, when the borrower reaches the age of eighteen
years.
(3) A guarantor shall not be released by the Librarian unless he
has discharged all and any liability arising under the guarantee.
(4) The Librarian may refuse to accept any person as guarantor
without assigning any reason.
Ticket not 
transferable. 
11. A ticket shall be personal and shall not be transferable. 
Borrower to report 
loss of ticket.
12. A borrower shall forthwith report to the Librarian in
writing the loss of a ticket issued to him.
New ticket may be 
issued when lost.
13. Where a borrower satisfies the Librarian that he has lost a
ticket, a new ticket may be issued to him after one month from the
date of reporting the loss in writing.
Procedure for 
borrowing books.
14. No person shall take any book from the library unless he
MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY  [ S.L.92.06 3
has complied with the procedure laid down by the Librarian for the
borrowing of books from the library.
Restriction on 
number of books to 
be borrowed.
15. Except with the permission of the Librarian, a borrower
may not on one ticket -
( a ) borrow more than one book on the same day, or
( b ) have more than one book on loan at the same time.
Books not 
immediately 
available may be 
reserved.
16. The Librarian may reserve for a borrower any book which
is not immediately available in any division of the library if such
borrower applies to him for such reservation.
Borrower to ensure 
book to be 
undamaged before 
leaving library.
17. A borrower shall, before leaving the library, ensure that
any book issued to him on loan is,  prima facie , complete and
undamaged.
Books borrowed to 
be returned within 
twenty-one days.
18. (1) Every book borrowed from the library shall, unless the
Librarian in any particular case gives permission to retain the book
for a longer period, be returned to the library within twenty-one
days after the day on which it was borrowed.
(2) Where a book is returned in accordance with sub-regulation
(1) of this regulation, it may be borrowed again by the borrower for
a further period of twenty-one days unless it is required by another
borrower.
Return of books.
borrowed from the library by bringing it to the section of the library
from which the book was borrowed, delivering it to the officer in
attendance at the counter or other place prescribed by the Librarian
for the return of books and following any procedure laid down by
the Librarian from time to time for the return of books.
(2)  For the purposes of these Regulations, a book shall not be
deemed to be returned to the library unless it is returned in the
manner provided by sub-regulation (1) of this regulation or in such
other manner as the Librarian may in any particular case direct.
Librarian may 
cancel or suspend 
ticket.
20. (1) The Librarian may cancel or suspend any ticket issued
under these Regulations where a borrower fails to return a book
within the time allowed by these Regulations or where the
Librarian is of opinion that the holder of the ticket has contravened
or is contravening any of these Regulations.
(2) The Librarian may refuse the issue of a ticket to any person
whose ticket had been previously cancelled under sub-regulation
(1) of this regulation.
Use of reference 
library.
21. (1) A person may obtain a book from a reference section
for consultation and use in the library by following the procedure
laid down from time to time by the Librarian.
(2) A book obtained under sub-regulation (1) of this regulation
shall be returned by the person who obtained the book by following
the procedure prescribed from time to time by the Librarian for the
return of books or in such manner as the Librarian may, in any
particular case, direct.
4 [ S.L.92.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY 
Book to be 
undamaged.
22. A person obtaining a book from a reference section is to
ensure that the book is  prima facie  undamaged. 
Books may not be 
removed from 
reference section.
23. Except where the Librarian in special circumstances
permits, books shall not be removed from the reference section of
the library.
Restriction on the 
use of books 
requested by 
another person.
24. No person shall retain any reference book for longer than
one hour when some other person requests the same book from the
Librarian. 
Liability for 
damaged or not 
returned books.
25. (1) Any person who writes upon, marks or soils any book
or by whose act any book is, in the opinion of the Librarian,
otherwise damaged in any way whatsoever, or who destroys any
book, shall be liable to pay to the Government such sum of money
as the Librarian considers necessary to replace such book or the
whole set of books of which such book forms a part or such sum of
money as the Librarian considers to be full compensation for the
damage or loss to the Government.
(2) If any book which is borrowed from the library or obtained
for use in the library is not returned in accordance with these
Regulations, the person who is the holder of the ticket on which
such book was borrowed or the person who obtained the book for
use in the library, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay to the
Government such sum of money as the Librarian considers
necessary to replace such book or the whole set of books of which
such book forms a part or such sum of money as the Librarian
considers to be full compensation for the damage or loss to the
Government.
(3) Where any sum becomes payable under this regulation in
respect of a book borrowed from the library, the person who is the
holder of the ticket on which the book was borrowed shall be liable
to pay such sum notwithstanding that the book was not materially
borrowed by him.
(4) The holder of a ticket who has reported in writing the loss
of the ticket to the Librarian shall not be liable under this
regulation in respect of any book which is borrowed from the
library on that ticket after he has reported such loss.
Damage to walls, 
doors, etc. 
26. (1) No person shall write upon, mark, soil or otherwise
damage in any way whatsoever or destroy any wall, door, furniture,
fitting or other thing in the library.
(2) Any person who writes upon, marks, soils or otherwise
damages in any way whatsoever or destroys any wall, door,
furniture, fitting or other thing in the library shall be liable to pay
such sum of money as the Librarian considers necessary for the
repair or replacement thereof.
Stopping of wilful 
damage. 
27. The Librarian may stop any person from doing any act
which in his opinion may cause any damage to, or the destruction
of, any book or other thing in the library.
Behaviour in 
library.
28. No person shall, in the library -
( a ) spit,
MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY  [ S.L.92.06 5
( b ) smoke or have or make use of any naked light;
( c ) consume any food or drink;
( d ) engage in any conversation after he has been requested
not to do so by the Librarian;
( e ) lie down on or put his feet on any table or chair in the
library or lie down on the floor of the library;
( f ) deposit or leave any litter, paper or rubbish, save in the
bins provided for that purpose; or
( g ) wilfully obstruct any officer of the library in the
performance of his duty.
Animals not to be 
brought into 
library.
29. No person shall bring into the library any animal under his
control, or permit or allow any such animal to enter or remain in the
library.
Vehicle or 
conveyance not to 
be brought into 
library.
30. Except with the permission of the Librarian, no person
shall bring into, or cause to be brought into, the library any wheeled
vehicle, or permit or allow any such vehicle or conveyance to
remain in the library.
Baskets, suitcases, 
etc., to be placed in 
rack.
31. (1) No person shall bring any basket, suitcase, or other
receptacle, or any umbrella into the library unless he places it
forthwith in a rack provided for that purpose.
(2) Neither the Government nor the Librarian nor any other
public officer shall be responsible for the loss of or damage to any
article placed in the rack, whether such loss or damage was due to
the neglect or default on the part of any officer of the library or
otherwise.
(3) If any article which has been placed in the rack is not
claimed within one month after it has been so placed, such article
may be disposed of as the Librarian may think fit.
No entry in part of 
library not open to 
the public.
32. Except with the permission of the Librarian, no person
other than a member of the library staff shall enter any part of the
library not open to the public.
Communicable 
diseases.
33. (1) A person suffering from any communicable disease
shall not borrow from, or read or use a book in the library or enter
the library.
(2) A borrower shall not permit or allow any person suffering
from any communicable disease to read or use a book borrowed
from the library.
(3) Where a borrower or any person residing in the place of
residence of a borrower contracts any communicable disease, the
borrower shall forthwith notify the Librarian.
Persons may be 
requested to leave 
library in certain 
circumstances.
34. (1) The Librarian may require any person -
( a ) who has contravened or is about to contravene or
whom he has reason to believe to have contravened or
is about to contravene any of these Regulations;
( b ) who appears to him to be intoxicated;
( c ) who refuses or fails to comply with any requirement or
6 [ S.L.92.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY 
direction made, given or issued under these
Regulations;
( d ) who is found using the library for a purpose for which
it is not intended;
( e ) who is found sleeping or committing any nuisance in
the library;
( f ) who is offensively unclean in person or in dress;
( g ) who is in the part of the library not open to the public
or from which he is excluded by these Regulations,
to leave the library or any part thereof forthwith.
(2) Any person who refuses or fails to leave the library or any
part thereof when required to do so under sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation shall be deemed to have contravened these Regulations.
(3) Any person who refuses or fails to leave the library or any
part thereof when required to do so under sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation may be removed therefrom at the discretion of the
Librarian.
False information. 35. Any person who - 
( a ) for the purpose of entering any part of the library;
( b ) in any application for a borrower’s ticket; or
( c ) for the purpose of obtaining the use of any of the
facilities of the library,
makes a statement or furnishes any information which he knows or
reasonably ought to know to be false in a material particular shall
be deemed not to have complied with these Regulations.
Librarian may 
exclude person 
infringing 
regulations.
36. (1) The Librarian may prohibit any person who has
contravened these Regulations from using any section of the library
for such period as he may determine.
(2) No person who has been prohibited from using the library
or any section thereof by the Librarian under this regulation shall,
without the permission of the Librarian, enter such library or any
section thereof.
Name in which 
proceedings may 
be brought.
37. Any sum which becomes due under the provisions of these
Regulations shall be recoverable by the Librarian as a debt due to
the Government and shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
Powers and duties 
of Librarian may 
be exercised by 
authorised person.
38. Every power and duty conferred or imposed by these
Regulations upon the Librarian may be exercised or discharged by
any person authorised in that behalf by the Librarian. 
Appeal to the 
Minister. 
39. Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the
Librarian made or taken under these Regulations, other than a
decision under regulation 34, may appeal therefrom to the Minister.
