A number of Maltese publishing houses have united in an effort to raise awareness and improve the "critical" state of the Maltese publishing sector, stating that they are facing problems such as increased costs and dwindling consumers.

They said they are collectively lobbying for urgent initiatives and investment in the publishing sector, not only to keep it alive but ensure its long-term continuity.

Maltese publishers announced that a group of Maltese publication houses - BDL books, ĊAK Ltd., Horizons, Kite group, Kotba Calleja, Merlin Publishers and Midsea books, are uniting to speak out in one voice about the pressing needs of local publishers and all the professionals who work in the sector from the writers to designers. They said that the Maltese publishing industry is continuously undergoing transformation with serious risks and challenges to their operations.

The publishers said that meanwhile, expenses increased, whilst book shops have continued decreasing such that an already small and vulnerable sector continues to struggle. They said that publishers want to open a dialogue with the governmental entities responsible for the sector with proposals and concrete solutions.

The publishers said that this group represents a whole spread of operators, all with their own particular realities, that altogether occupy 75% of the market. They said that they are united not only by their love of Maltese books but their dedication to render a tangible investment that doesn't expire, despite the ever-decreasing size of the market and profits.

The publishers said that they keep Maltese literature and publications alive, from school books to research publications and added that Maltese publications fully contribute to the awareness of who the Maltese are as a population; where they came from and where they are going. They said that the loss of this would mean an accelerated loss of the collective memory and the Maltese language with its distinct idioms, that is, the pillars of the daily interactions between the Maltese.

The publishers said that the critical state of the sector and the serious needs of the operators require urgent action and direct intervention. They said that the government needs to see the local publishing sector requires substantial and urgent investment to keep moving forward.

The publishers said that this sector has been put aside for too long and deserves better. They added that the praise in favour of Maltese literature and reading Maltese by politicians and their representatives isn't enough and means nothing if, in reality, it doesn't render direct investment.

The publishers said that whilst they welcome and support every initiative by the National Book Council, including the prize and funds it administers, they noted that "the majority of these do not favour the book production industry and the other operators, without which the sector wouldn't exist." They added that the initiatives don't look further from the immediate impact and aren't deemed to be sustainable measures.

The publishers said that they are proposing various solutions that can be implemented in a short time and can contribute to the sustenance and growth of the sector. They said that any strategy for Maltese literature and the publishing industry needs to prioritize long-term sustainability in the publishers' operations, that must start with the awareness that the number of publishers and the market is small. They said that due to this situation, a strategy for the future must seriously consider direct fiscal initiatives for publishers and aid that can attract businesspeople to open new book shops.

The publishers concluded by saying that that this statement is but the start of an active dialogue by the publishers to raise awareness about their work and the needs of their sector "so that it may begin to recover and grow towards sustainable operation." They added that as publishers, they will be working in favour of all the operators and entities that work in the name of Maltese literature with full participation in any positive initiative for the sector.

PEN Malta statement

In a statement,  PEN Malta said that it fully supports the plea put forth to the government by Maltese publishers "in light of the serious difficulties they are facing caused by the present economic situation. PEN Malta appreciates that the current situation is jeopardising the publishers' industry and that this may negatively affect the Maltese collective memory, the national language, and Maltese culture in general. PEN Malta is also aware that publishers have repeatedly sounded their concerns with competent authorities for a long time with no response. Therefore, PEN Malta joins the Maltese publishers in urging the government to acknowledge the plight and take the necessary action for the national benefit."