It was a good start for the Malta Book Fair, which attracted hundreds of schoolchildren on its opening day, yesterday.

Filling the main hall of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta to capacity, the participants, which exceed 30, vary from publishers to retailers, from NGOs to antiquarian book sellers.

A large number of new books are expected to be launched during the fair that ends on Sunday.

National Book Council chairman, Ġorġ Mallia, said the event normally drew about 17,000 visitors every year.

He described the fair as a dynamic space where the Maltese could discuss books, see what was on offer and stock up for months of reading. The fair also gave space to participants to hold book-related events.

A number of activities are planned be held at the MCC’s Sir Temi Zammit Hall. These include an interview with author Immanuel Mifsud, winner of the EU Literary Prize, a humorous evening with author Trevor Żahra, entitled Storja Vittorja, and Tsek-Tsik, organised by Merlin Publishers.

Book presentations will be held by, among others, Edward Clemmer, Alfred Sant, Michael Refalo and President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami.

Children’s author Marcus Sedgwick will meet the public on Sunday.

The activities will be rounded off by a repeat of the dramatisation of Dun Karm’s Il-Jien u lil Hinn Minnu by Josette Ciappara.

A number of exhibitions mounted by the Libraries Department are also being held at the fair, including one about Dun Karm Psaila on the 50th anniversary of his death.

The fair, organised by the National Book Council in collaboration with the Department of Libraries, is open today from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 9 pm, tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4 to10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entrance is free.