In the article by Annaliza Borg entitled “KNK survey describing 86 per cent of population as readers shot down”, shadow education minister Evarist Bartolo says that the survey “had made every effort to reverse a more pessimistic 2007 survey on reading habits in Malta” (TMIS, 10 April).

The National Book Council would like to clarify that the intentions of the survey, as stated by its president Dr Ġorġ Mallia in the same article, was to understand better the profile of readership in the Maltese Islands. In no way does it try to reverse the 2007 Eurobarometer survey. In fact, it is noted in the KNK survey, that 52.7 per cent do not read a book once every two months, which is a comparable result to the 2007 survey.

Mr Bartolo seems to have made the mistake made by many − associating reading only with the reading of books, which is quite a limited vision of what reading in today’s society is all about. The survey has proved clearly that though the Maltese are not avid book readers, this does not mean that they do not read, and the survey uses a measure used extensively internationally to gauge that reading. This has shown that the Maltese do read, and only a small percentage are, for a number of reasons also explored in the survey, averse to reading in its totality.

Having said that, we would like to set Mr Bartolo’s mind at rest about the need for ongoing campaigns to encourage more reading. In fact, the National Book Council is not emphasising the 86 per cent readership in its pronouncements. Rather, it is concentrating on those areas that can be improved, as the survey gives clear indications of the lacunas that exist.

The KNK intends to devise new projects and campaigns that will, hopefully, reverse those trends that have deterred the enjoyment of reading by so many, while strengthening those that are already doing well in this important area.

National Book Council