The National Library of Malta, popularly known as the Bibliotheca, stands majestically in one of the most elegant
piazzas of Valletta. This architectural gem is a treasured legacy of the Knights of St. John. Completed in 1796, its origins can be
traced to 24 May, 1555 when the General Council of the Order, then residing in medieval Birgu, decreed the establishment of a
Library.
The Bibliotheca possesses thousands of rare books, manuscripts and royal charters some of which dating back to the twelfth
century. Among the outstanding treasures, are the Charter of King Baldwin I of Jerusalem granting casals in Galilee to the Order of
St. John (1107); and the charter granting the Maltese Islands to the Order by Charles Vin (1530).
This Interactive CD-Rom, commissioned by the Maltese National Commission for UNESCO, is specifically designed for the
layman and the potential researcher in order to encourage easy access to the inestimable wealth of knowledge enshrined in our
National Library consisting mainly of: the Archives of the Order of St. John (7,000 manuscripts), the Archives of the Medieval
Universitas; the extremely rare books in the Incunabula section and a vast array of Melitensia, ancient documents, fine bindings
and prints. This CD can be purchased at the National Library of Malta in Valletta. |
