Five-day book bonanza opens today

The 22nd edition of the Malta Book Fair - a date for book lovers - opens to the public today, offering not only a variety of books but also a number of cultural activities.

The fair, being held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, is the ideal mechanism to celebrate books, and local publishers are grabbing the opportunity to launch their new publications, the National Book Council, which is organising the event, said.

About 166 books were published in Malta last year, based on the fact that there were 166 entries for the National Book Prize, the council said, adding that over 750,000 books were borrowed from the Floriana public library.

The number of entries for the National Book Prize has doubled over last year.

Chaired by Gorg Mallia, the council is responsible for promoting book culture in Malta, persistently highlighting the importance of reading and the love of books.

Among its projects in the pipeline is a website, housing an archive of every Maltese book in print; a production manual for writers and publishers of Maltese books, being prepared by a committee composed of some of the most important publishers, writers, librarians and booksellers; and the networking of schools in an effort to encourage activities that promote books.

Among the highlights of the fair, Trevor Zahra will be launching his new book Shab at 6 p.m. today, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet Mr Zahra and author Guzè Stagno in the Temi Zammit Hall at 7 p.m.

The National Book Prize ceremony, which has undergone radical changes by the council, will be held on Friday. The book competition previously dealt solely with literary works and has also changed its name, the organisers said.

Other events include the launch of Karl Schembri's novel Il-Manifest tal-Killer, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Poezijaplus at 7.30 p.m.

The 22nd edition of the fair is ending in style this year, thanks to Merlin Library Ltd, which is offering the public the opportunity to meet famed children's writer Annie Dalton.

Today, tomorrow and Friday mornings are being dedicated to students, with about 3,500 schoolchildren expected to visit the fair.

A focus is being placed on children, with two storytelling sessions by media personalities. Miriam Dalli, Joe Debono and Tania Muscat will be dedicating time to them at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, with Peppi Azzopardi and Claudette Pace at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow; and from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, it is open from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

A bus shuttle service, number 98, will run from the Valletta terminus at a nominal fare. Entrance to the fair is free of charge and each person will be being given a ticket with the chance to win one of the books donated by the exhibitors.