Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1459407
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 MARCH 2022 6 BOOKS Students with a chance to visit closed-off section at UM Library during Campus Book Festival IN collaboration with the Uni- versity of Malta Department of Maltese and the Għaqda tal-Malti - Università, the Na- tional Book Council is once again organising a very special visit to the Melitensia section of the UM Library during the Campus Book Festival. This event is a perfect oppor- tunity not only for sixth-form students who are currently studying to get their necessary qualifications to enter Uni- versity, but also for secondary school visits as part of their ex- tra-curricular activities. Public and students alike will be guided through the archives within the University library which contain the original writ- ings of the National poet Dun Karm Psaila and Rużar Briffa, among others. Prof. Bernard Micallef and Dr Olvin Vella will be leading the visit to this part of the library, which is not normally accessi- ble to the public, and they will be giving information about what Melitensia is and how im- portant it is to make this writ- ten heritage available to the public and students in Malta. The word 'Melitensia' is a term used to describe the intellectual and artistic content in the ma- terial produced, or directly rel- evant, to Maltese and the study of Malta, regardless of where it originated. Such materials may be in handwritten format, such as manuscripts and letters, or printed, such as published books, newspapers, as well as digital and technological, such as audiovisual work. In a nut- shell, Melitensia covers all Mal- tese works on any subject and in any language, published lo- cally or elsewhere. They may or may not be in Malta. Melitensia at the University of Malta cov- ers the largest collection of this material after what we find in the National Library. We can conclude by saying that informational literacy is a means of personal empow- erment, enabling one to agree with, or reject, collective opin- ion, and leading one to be a researcher of true reality. The Melitensia is not just a room armed with books, or any ar- chetype, but a room of satis- fied curiosity and full learning. Genuine arguments are made up only of books - the library is full of ideas; perhaps the most dangerous and powerful weap- ons. Meanwhile, Plutarch says, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled." The event 'Tlaqna sal-Meliten- sia' will take place on Wednes- day 23 March from 11am to 12pm as part of the programme of events of the 2022 Campus Book Festival. Anyone wishing to book a place should send an email to info@ghmu.org.mt. A valid COVID-19 vaccine certificate is required. The 2022 Campus Book Festi- val is organised by the National Book Council and is running between Wednesday 23 and Friday 25 March at the Univer- sity of Malta Quadrangle. Visit the full programme of events on www.ktieb.org.mt