Library Information & Archive Sciences at UM

Extensive coverage of the Archivistics seminar we held at the Biblioteca Apostolica on the Vatican News.

https://www.vaticannews.va/it/vaticano/news/2026-05/biblioteca-apostolica-vaticana-malta-universita-archivi.html

This event was organise by the Department of Library, Information and Archive Sciences withing the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences MAKS - University of Malta

Prof William Zammit latest publication. A study of Cardinal Joaquin de Portocarrero, whose impressive collection co-founded the present National Library of Malta.
Portocarrero was an avid follower of the sciences and, besides his (long-lost) impressive collection of scientific instruments, his manuscripts included cartographic works and a comparison between the Ptolemaic Earth-centred and the Copernican Sun-centred solar system.
Published in 'The Art of Negotiating an Existence', edited by Prof. George Cassar, Dane Munro and Noel Buttigieg. Full of very interesting studies and beautifully produced.

External Examiner Dr Julie Mathias from the Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth University addressed our students about the 'UK archives and records legislation: the Aberystwyth context'. Our department has long-standing collaboration with our counterparts in Aberystwyth. Amongst Maltese professionals who graduated from Aberystwyth there was Josie Attard Montalto, Joseph Schiro and the current Head of Department.

Archives are not only about culture, historical research and publishing lavish books! Archives are the bedrock of democracy, accountability, authenticity and the safeguarding of rights.

A world without memory (Nordic Archive Days 2025 opening segment) What happens to us all if our archives are lost, stolen, abused or manipulated? Opening segment for Nordic Archive Days 2025 hosted by the National Archives ...

As from this year, the topic of trauma-informed practices has been strengthened on our curriculum for the MA in archives and librarianship. Students were addressed by Dr Anna Sexton from UCL who is one of the prominent authors about the topic.

Sexton is a qualitiatve researcher with a focus on archives and recordkeeping. At UCL Anna leads core modules in collections management for archives, the conceptual and theoretical underpinings of archives and recordkeeping, as well as an optional module in trauma-informed approaches to managing records, archives and cultural heritage. She was Programme Director of Archives and Records Management (2021-2025) and is currently DIS Departmental Tutor (leading on academic support and student welfare).

Anna has extensive professional experience combining archives and research management. She is an active contributor to the UK archives and records management sector serving in a number of capacities including as Managing Editor of Archives and Records (the journal of the Archives and Records Association), and as an Archives Unlocked Advisory Board Member supporting The National Archives in their archive sector leadership role and in the delivery of government policy on archives.

We thank Dr Sexton, who is also an external examiner, for her contribution to our course.

The latest from a series of international scholars who addressed our MA students was Dr Karen Trivette. She discussed her long standing career in the profession, her training and also the interaction with the public through her social media interaction. Thank you Dr Trivette for sharing your experience with our students!

More insights from the SAGA project in which The National Archives of Malta are participating.

🏛️ Protecting the Built Heritage of Archives

In the SAGA project, we are working to identify and understand the risks that threaten the buildings where many archives are housed. Archives not only safeguard documents, but they also occupy buildings with significant historical and architectural value.

This work focuses on assessing the vulnerability of these buildings—including their structure, decorative elements, and historic interiors—to environmental, geological, meteorological, and human-induced threats.

Through the analysis of hazards, vulnerabilities, and existing resilience measures, we aim to identify the most critical risks facing these buildings.

This preliminary assessment will serve as a basis for future studies and for developing effective risk-prevention and disaster-management strategies in archival institutions.

Here you can find our Risk Assessment tool: https://sagaproject.eu/resources-2/

If you would like to learn more about the Project, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme, visit our website:
https://sagaproject.eu/

This week our MA students were addressed by Dr Deborah Lee, an academic specialising in library and information studies from University College London. Her research focuses on knowledge organisation, cataloguing and classification. In her studies she questions what a classification scheme actually is and the idea of classification scheme "reception", and issues of ethics in cataloguing and classification especially around creative works.

During this week Dr Maciej Kluza, Certified Curator at the Museum of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland is visiting our department on an Erasmus exchange. He had the opportunity to visit the Faculty, University library and archives, the The National Archives of Malta and meet colleagues to share common interests.