[ S.L.511.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 511.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY REGULATIONS 26th February, 1974 LEGAL NOTICE 21 of 1974, as amended by Legal Notices 13 of 1981, 23 of 1989 and 408 of 2007; and Act V of
- The title of these regulations is Malta Public Library Regulations.
- In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires - Title. Interpretation. "borrower" means the holder of a ticket; "library" means the Malta Public Library at Beltisseb] and includes any b ranch o f 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 permitting him to borrow books from the 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. Divisions of library.
(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. 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. Times during which library is open to the public. Amended by: L.N. 13 of 1981; L.N. 23 of 1989. (
- 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.
- 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. Holder of ticket may borrow books. 2 [ S.L.511.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY Application to become a borrower.
- 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. Amended by: L.N. 408 of
- 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 eleven euros and sixty-five cents (11.65) 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 beco me g uar an to r, or where the L ibrarian d ir ects 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.
- A ticket shall be personal and shall not be transferable. Borrower to report loss of ticket.
- 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.
- 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. MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY [ S.L.511.06 3
- No person shall take any book from the library unless he has complied with the procedure laid down by the Librarian for the borrowing of books from the library. Procedure for borrowing books.
- Except with the permission of the Librarian, a borrower may not on one ticket - Restriction on number of books to be borrowed. (a) borrow more than one book on the same day, or (b) have more than one book on loan at the same time.
- 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. Books not immediately available may be reserved.
- A borrower shall, before leaving the library, ensure that any book issued to him on loan is, prima facie, complete and undamaged. Borrower to ensure book to be undamaged before leaving library. 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. Books borrowed to be returned within twenty-one days.
(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. 19.
(1)A borrower or his representative shall return any book 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. 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)or in such other manner as the Librarian may in any particular case direct. 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. Librarian may cancel or suspend ticket.
(2)The Librarian may refuse the issue of a ticket to any person whose ticket had been previously cancelled under sub-regulation
(1). 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)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. Use of reference library. 4 [ S.L.511.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY Book to be undamaged.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Gov ern men t such s um of mo ney as th e Lib rar ian con sider s 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 o f th e tick et to th e L ib r ar ian sh all n o t b e lia ble un d er thi s 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. Behaviour in library. 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. 28. No person shall, in the library (
- a)spit, MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY [ S.L.511.06 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. 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. Animals 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. Vehicle or conveyance not to be brought into library. 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. Baskets, suitcases, etc., to be placed in rack.
(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. 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. No entry in part of library not open to the public. 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. Communicable diseases.
(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. 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 Persons may be requested to leave library in certain circumstances. 6 [ S.L.511.06 MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY direction made, Regulations; given or issued under these (
- 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)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.
- 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.
- 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. Substituted by: V. 2007.
- Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Librarian made or taken under these regulations, other than a d ecis io n u n d er r eg u lati on 34 , ma y ap pe al t he r ef ro m to th e Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 5 of the Administrative Justice Act, and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal. Cap. 490.