Date of tip: June 2007
Source: Alexander Apostolides, PhD Student in Economic History; a.apostolides@lse.ac.uk
Location: National Archives of Malta
Santo Spirito
Hospital Street
Rabat, Malta
RBT 12
National Library of Malta
Valletta, Malta
CMR 02
How to get there: Malta is a very easy place to travel – Almost all buses stop at Valletta and buses leave from Valetta to Rabat very regularly and the fare is approximately 30 pence each way. Estimated travel time is 20 minutes.
Language: Maltese, English and Italian – most notarial archives are in Italian or Latin
Getting started: You only need a passport or a European ID to access
Opening Hours: Biblioteka and National archive: Winter (1st October till 15th June)
08:15am - 04:15pm; Summer(16th June till 30th September)
08:15am - 01:00pm; Saturdays 08:15am - 01:00pm . Notarial Archives only work in the Mornings from 0815 – 01:00
General working conditions: The Staff is very friendly and when it is not busy they are only to happy to provide all assistance; Delivery is very prompt (15 minutes). However at peak times request can be limited to 10 files a day; only one file can be requested by new visitors form 12:30 to 1:15. In Rabat and there is a Reference Library mainly on issues relating to Malta, the Knights of Malta and the Second World War. The Notarial Archives are staffed by enthusiastic archivists but are generally understaffed, thus the facilities available and time taken can vary.
Consultation: Usually ten folders can be consulted a day but it is only enforced rigidly in peak times
Policy on technology: Laptops are Allowed, however Digital Cameras and Scanners are not allowed unless express permission is given by the Archive.
Photocopy policy: Most thigs are allowed to be copied at aproximalty 10p per page
Particularities: Finding the entrance to the Rabat National archives is tricky; Although the building is adjacent to the bus stop for Midina/Rabat one needs to walk round to the entrance in hospital street. The entrance is next to the large street on that road. Not a lot of people know about the archives so it is best to ask for hospital street instead. There is no Cafeteria; however the Archives in Valletta are in the Middle of the city, while one can walk to the central square of Rabat by going up the street that is across form you as you walk out of the Archive entrance. Both Rabat and Valletta have ample food establishments to fit all pockets.
The most special characteristic of the archives is the sheer amount of history. There are extensive British colonial archives dating back to the early 19th century; as well as extensive documents from as far back as the early 15th century, including all functions and transactions relating to the use of notaries. The special areas of interest seem to be the Knights of Malta, the British colonial period and the Second World War. Most archivists are very friendly while some of the archives are partially staffed by volunteers. The archive is undergoing a digitisation of passport application of people resident in Malta and is considering digitising the Maltese Statistical Blue Books
How to apply for classified files: Assess to documents is limited by : A closure period of 30 years - applies to all public documents and a closure period of 80 years - applies to confidential material. No other information on how to apply for classified files is known
Contact name in case of questions regarding classified files: I would apply directly to the general archive email: Customercare.archives@gov.mt
Etc: A very easy place to work, with very responsive archival staff; Card indexes by subject and year are available for but not all of the material in series. A relaxed environment, and quite spacious reading room.
Places to Stay: Suggested place of residence is the international student residence in Lija where a room costs from 10 pounds a night onwards. There is a swimming pool, facilities to cook as well as weekly cleaning facilities. Your fellow residents are usually Erasmus / Year abroad students from around the world. For more information please see:
http://www.universityresidence.com/
Forms: The form needed to order documents is simple; the assistants at hand can help you
Funding: The archive is requesting funding – you can join the friends of the National Archives of Malta Foundation (more information on the archives website). Alternatively you can donate documents that would be of interest to the archive.
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