Books deemed inadequate for young students should not be removed from library shelves but be classified in a way that makes them available to mature readers, the Maltese Academy said.

The academy voiced its support for author Mario Azzopardi whose book, Vampir u Stejjer Oħra, sparked controversy when it was banned from secondary school libraries.

The Education Ministry had said it would set up a board to classify books and advise the ministry on the running of school libraries and the books which may be kept there.

In the statement yesterday, the academy said it agreed with the setting up of the board made of competent members.

The academy also congratulated Maltese authors whose work was recognised during the National Book Prize awards on Thursday.

These authors included Mr Azzopardi and Alex Vella Gera, who is facing criminal charges over a sexually explicit story which appeared in the University newspaper Ir-Realtà.

Mr Vella Gera turned down an invitation to attend the awards ceremony after taking offence at the way the Nationalist Party’s television station depicted him and newspaper editor Mark Camilleri as promoters of paedophilia.