Public libraries saw book loans and the number of new members fall by over a sixth last year, despite a significant increase in book acquisitions.

Data provided by the Central Public Library to the National Statistics Office shows that public libraries lent 635,008 books last year, 17.3% fewer than the 767,548 lent in 2013 and 25.1% fewer than the 848,167 lent in 2012.

Figures show that Gozitans are more likely to use libraries, and book lending in Gozo remained relatively stable: the 100,183 books lent by the Gozo Lending Library and by branch libraries in the island represent a drop of just 1.9% over the previous year.

There has been a steep drop in the number of books lent by the Central Public Library in Belt is-Sebħ over the past few years. While 269,328 books had been lent by the library in 2012, the number dropped by more than half in two years: just 121,328 books were taken out by the library last year.

After a slight increase from 5,456 in 2012 to 5,535 in 2013, the number of new library members has also declined by 17.5% last year, to 4,569. The number of new adult members declined by 10.2% to 1,848, whereas the number of new junior members declined by 21.5% to 2,720.

The number of book acquisitions, however, increased by 10.9% to 29,916 last year, although this figure remains lower than the 37,358 books acquired in 2012.

Book donations continued to account for the majority of acquired books, with their number increasing from 17,377 in 2013 to 18,662 last year, while the number of book purchases increased from 9,591 to 11,254.

In 2014, the National Library of Malta received 402 books and 561 periodicals, compared to the 463 books and 560 periodicals received in 2013.