Education Minister Louis Galea has appointed the members of the fourth National Book Council (NBC).

Dr Gorg Mallia has been reconfirmed as the council’s chairman. The members of the council are Joe Debattista (secretary), Sergio Grech (communications officer), Philip Borg, Greta Borg Carbott, Priscilla Camilleri, Charles Casha, Martes Paris, Pawlu Mizzi and Trevor Zahra.

The council intends to work on a number of new projects, as well as continue to develop ideas and projects that have been started by the previous National Book Council.

It must be remembered that the previous council had a much shorter lifespan than is normal for such councils and it endeavoured to create new concepts.

Among other things a total revision was carried out in respect of the Literary Prize, which became the National Book Prize. The Book Fair moved from Naxxar to Valletta, with great success, as after a number of years, the fair saw an increase in the number of attendees from among those who really love books.

A seminar about poetry books was also held and the NBC organised a literary evening for Book Day.

Contact was maintained with the public through the publication of an electronic leaflet, and also with the Nibxa Poetika (an electronic poetic teaser), which will be continued soon.

In the first meeting of the fourth NBC, which was held on 22 March, the council set up a number of committees with the aim of enlarging the spread of the council’s work. Among others, there is an evaluation committee for the National Book Prize, headed by Trevor Zahra, Charles Casha will be heading a committee to set up activities in schools and Greta Borg Carbott will be in charge of a committee whose aim is to create contacts overseas.

In the coming years, the National Book Council will also have its own website, which is intended to not only give information about the council and its activities, but also to be a searchable archive of all books in print in Malta.

A number of projects are planned, and the council invites all those who can help it, or who have suggestions, to give their feedback.