Book loans from public libraries jumped 22.5 per cent over the past year, new figures released by the National Statistics Office have shown. 

The increase to 777,804 loans reverses last year's substantial decline, with book loans now a shade higher than the 767,548 number achieved in 2013. 

Among other trends revealed by NSO figures: 

• Library book acquisitions increased by 31.5 per cent, with two out of every three books acquired by donation 

• Public library membership was up 36.8 per cent, with adult members increasing by 33.8 per cent and junior ones by 38 per cent

Despite the overall increase in library activity, book loans from the central public library in Floriana declined 5.5 per cent. 

In Gozo, Nadur's public library continued to be the island's busiest one, exceeding that in Victoria by 25,873 book loans. 

Periodicals received at the National Library of Malta under legal deposit decreased by 10.3 per cent over the previous year, from 561 to 503. On the other hand, the amount of printed books received increased by 8.2 per cent, from 402 to 435.

Trade figures show that €17.2 million worth of printed books and periodicals were imported in 2015. The total value of printed books imported declined by 1.4 per cent. Meanwhile, the value of printed periodicals imported went up by 45.8 per cent when compared to the previous year. The total value of exports increased to €7.9 million.

During 2015, private final consumption of printed materials went down when compared to the previous year. A decrease was registered on expenditure on books (4.4 per cent), newspapers and periodicals (2.6 per cent) and on other miscellaneous printed matter (24.5 per cent).