Administrative data provided by Malta Libraries indicate in branch public libraries across Gozo there was an increase in the number of loans at 105,614, which was up from 98,575 in 2017, the National Statistics Office said today.
Residents of Nadur continue to be avid readers, with the Nadur Public Library again having the highest number of book loans in Gozo during 2018, with a figure of 44,322 which was on par with the previous year. While the highest drop in book loans was found in Kercem at 27.9%.
The Gozo Central Public Library in Victoria saw a decrease in the number of loans for last year at 29,610, down from 33,829 in 2017.
In 2018 on a national basis, total book loans stood at 1,022,346, an increase of 111,370 or 12.2% over the preceding year. The increase in book loans was registered across all districts.
The NSO said that in percentage terms, the largest share of the increase in book loans was registered by public libraries in the Western district.
It explained that in total, this district had a year-on-year increase of 36.6 per cent in book loans, with the main increases being registered by the public libraries of Dingli, Attard, and Mtarfa at the rates of 74.3, 52.0, and 48.3% respectively.
The public libraries of Senglea and Kalkara registered the highest drops in book loans with 48.2, and 18.4% respectively, the NSO added.
Book acquisitions during 2018 amounted to 36,369, down by 20.9% when compared to the preceding year. The NSO said that book donations and book purchases to public libraries also decreased, this time by 28.5 and 11.9% respectively.
However, the acquisition of eBooks recorded an increase when compared with the previous year.
The number of new members of public libraries stood at 6,266, up by 22.4% when compared to 2017. Under 18s made up 65.5% of the new members of the public libraries, the NSO said.