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In 2019, book acquisitions by public libraries amounted to 47,754, up by 31.3 per cent when compared to the preceding year. Book donations to and purchases by public libraries increased by 39.7 and 17.4 per cent respectively. On the other hand, the acquisition of eBooks decreased by 2.4 per cent when compared to 2018.

New members of public libraries, in 2019, stood at 6,071, down by 3.1 per cent when compared to new members for the previous year. Persons under the age of 18 made up 65.4 per cent of public libraries’ new members.

When compared to the preceding year, in 2019, the largest increase in book loans was registered by public libraries in the South Eastern district. In total, this district had a year-on-year increase of 14.3 per cent in book loans, with the main increase being registered by the public library of Qrendi. The increase was of 10,633 book loans or 80.2 per cent, over the previous year. On the other hand, the Northern district recorded the largest drop, with 18.4 per cent less book loans from 2018. In this case, the main decrease was from the public library of Mosta, which recorded a drop of 16,183 book loans, 27.5 per cent less than the previous year.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NSO

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