The Maltese certainly don't qualify as bookworms: They are the ones who read the least across the EU, according to a Eurobarometer survey carried out between February and March last year.

It showed that 54 per cent of the Maltese respondents never read a book in the preceding 12 months.

This is the highest percentage in the EU, way above the EU27 average that stood at 28 per cent, the National Statistics Office said.

In a statement on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day which was celebrated yesterday, the NSO said the survey showed that Sweden - with 60 per cent of the respondents indicating that they have read more than five books during the reference period - is the country whose citizens are the most avid readers.

The same survey also indicated that visits to public libraries are not very popular with the Maltese. In fact, 75 per cent of the respondents indicated that they never visited a public library during the reference period. The country that makes most use of public libraries is Denmark, whose respondents indicated that 39 per cent visited a public library more than five times during the preceding 12 months.

Locally, new public library membership has also been showing a negative trend over the last few years. A positive trend has, however, been noted in new adult membership in Gozo public libraries during last year.

The total number of book acquisitions in public libraries increased from 19,995 in 2006 to 27,119 last year, mainly due to donations.

In the four years up to last year, a significant increase was noted in private consumption expenditure of newspapers and periodicals which increased from €23 million (Lm9.87 million) in 2006 to €29 million (Lm12.45 million) last year.

A marginal increase was noted in the expenditure on books - from €20.5 million (Lm8.80 million) in 2006 to €21.8million (Lm9.36 million) last year.