Reading Rooms

Whether you use the main reading room at Santo Spirito in Rabat, or the Banca Giuratale reading room in Mdina depends on the type of research query you have. Records of the Law Courts for the period 1530 - 1899 are held at the Banca Giuratale in Mdina (this repository is only open on request). All other adminstrative records for the post-1800 period are held at the National Archives in Rabat, and thus the reading room in Rabat has to be frequented.

You will be asked to show an identification document (ID card or passport) and sign a register on each visit and to observe a set of regulations designed to protect the valuable, often irreplaceable, material for consultation there.

In the reading room one finds:

• A reference library which helps the researcher read about the context of the topic under investigation
• A finding aids unit with a complete range of printed catalogues
• Photocopying facilities
• An information desk with a range of publication and information sheets
• A rack for researchers to put their bags on
• Preservation gadgets such as foam book rests and snakes to help you preserve the records

For all archival items, you simply fill in an order form and hand it in. The items will then be fetched from the strong-rooms to your table. The number of items that can be issued per person per day may be limited according to the circumstances.

Handling of Documents