History National Library of Malta

interior of library

the origins of national library of malta go 1555, when grand master claude de la sengle decreed books belonging deceased members of order of st. john passed order s treasury.

in 1760, louis guérin de tencin, bailiff grand cross of order, purchased collection of 9700 books had belonged joaquín fernández de portocarrero 7000 scudi. year later, opened public library in building known il forfantone in valletta, containing books own library portocarrero s collection, library of comm. sainte-jay (which kept @ sacristy of conventual church of st. john), , books donated members of order. de tencin appointed giovanni pietro francesco agius de soldanis librarian, , paid salary himself. de tencin died in 1766 before managing secure funds maintaining library.

in 1776, grand master emmanuel de rohan-polduc formally founded bibliotheca publica, , called bibliotheca tanseana in de tencin s honour. forfantone considered cramped house new library, polish-born italian architect stefano ittar commissioned design new library building in 1786. building built on site of conservatoria, gold , silver bullion of order s treasury stored. completed in 1796, remained empty years due french invasion of 1798. inaugurated on 4 june 1812 civil commissioner sir hildebrand oakes, , became known malta public library.

it became legal deposit library act no. ii of 1925, , in 1936 granted title of royal malta library king george v. in 1937, archives of order transferred library public registry.

in 1976, central public library opened in floriana, , valletta library became research , reference library known national library of malta.