A total of 8,573,786 books were borrowed from Malta’s public libraries between 2013 and 2023, data provided by Malta Libraries show.

These included the Central Public Libraries in Malta and Gozo, the Regional Libraries and the Branch Libraries.

The data showed that the number of physical books borrowed during the 2013-2023 period amounted to 8,362,862 while the number of eBooks borrowed during the same period amounted to 210,924.

It was noted that the Malta Libraries’ eBook service was launched in April 2016.

In this same period, new library members amounted to 61,757, most of which was comprised of young adults (13 to 17 years old) and junior borrowers (0 to 12 years old)

Between 2020 and 2023, Malta Libraries also registered a consecutive increase in book loans, from a total of 617,820 book loans in 2020, to 685,469 total book loans in 2023.

The number of physical books borrowed in 2020 was that of 571,778, with another 46,042 eBook loans.

The amount of physical books borrowed in 2023 rose to 626,894, while that of eBook loans amounted to 58,575.

While the number of physical books borrowed rose steadily in the last four years, there was a decrease in the number of eBooks borrowed in the years 2021 and 2022, before recording a higher number of loans in 2023.