From the very start of the British Residents’ Association, over 40 years ago, the main objective was seen as fostering friendly and harmonious relations between members of the Association and with the people of the Maltese Islands and to assist, advise and represent members of the Association.
One of the best ways to do this is to provide a ‘drop in’ centre to provide information and support. We like to think that our library fulfils this need, not just through providing a lending service for books but also through the notice boards and by providing a venue for people to meet, chat, maybe enjoy a coffee and share problems and advice. It’s also a great way to advertise our Association.
We welcome everyone: members, visitors to the islands, local residents and, of course, prospective members. Our library is often the first stop for tourists from the UK and elsewhere.
When we moved to more spacious premises 5 years ago, the Committee made it clear that we only had the funds to support the increased expenses for one year, after that the library had to pay its way.
Actually, the library has been more than self-sufficient for all that time and not one cent of our membership fees has gone towards subsidising the library – in fact, as you will have seen from the financial report, quite the opposite.
The library is staffed entirely by volunteers who give hours of their time to ensure its smooth running and to make people feel welcome.
We hold regular celebrations at the library for our members and guests, where we encourage people attending to bring a plate of food. However, in future, the Committee has suggested that this might best be done on days when the library is normally closed.
We are grateful for your support but, please, if you have any comments or complaints, speak to a Committee member who’ll do their best to sort things out.
