Malta International Book Fair 1980.Pdf

17 · 21 APRIL 1980 MALTA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR A Souvenir Prepared and printed by Interprint Ltd. Dr. Philip Muscat, the Minister of Education, when delivering his opening speech to the crowd which thronged the historic building of the Mediterranean Conference Centre, on the occasion of the Second Malta International Book Fair, referred to the Fair as "young but healthy forward-looking". The number of distinguished personalities present, together with the participants and the members of the press A YOUNG BOOK FAIR agreed fully. The response, in both the quantity and the quality, augers well for the future and fully justifies the Education Ministry's initiative. The full text of the Minister's speech ran as follows:- Just over a year ago, on the assets, Malta was an ideal place provIsion from pre-schQPI to ship in the humanities, the magic way oftransforming a holi 15th of March, 1979,on the eve for such an international gather university. Another exhibition sciences and technology as well day in the sun into a cultural of the most important event in ing. was held to conclude the many as for leisure has brought about pilgrimage. the history of these islands, I This encouraging response activities of The International dramatic changes in methods of It is not my intention, this had the honour to address a urged my Ministry to take two Year of the Child. We brought production. In our times we morning, to dwell on the cultural similar gathering at the Auberge decisions. Originally, we had in to Malta an exhibition of stamps have seen the rapid development history of Malta; a brief mention de Baviere. The occasion was the tended to hold the second edi issued during 1979 in over one and the phenomenal spread of of the major milestones will be inauguration of the first Malta tion of the Fair in 1981. By the hundred countries to commemo new and sophisticated means for enough. Malta's cultural antece International Book Fair which time the Fair had closed its rate the International Year of the gathering, storage, retrieval dents can be traced back to pre was one of my Ministry's contri doors, we were convinced that the Child. The response was such and transmission of information. historic times as can be seen by butions towards the celebration two years was too long a period an overwhelming one - 17,000 Instead of retreating in the fact the awe inspiring megalithic of the arrival of a new era in our of time to wait. The Malta Inter visitors including hundreds of of a potential threat, the pub monuments that have survived. history. In the words of our national Book Fair had, almost philatelists visited the exhibition lishing world has bravely harn- The close association with Rome Prime Minister the inauguration overnight, established itself as an in the days of the Roman of that Fair was to be seen as important event in the cultural Empire preceded the arrival of proof of the Government's calendar of Malta and the Medi Christianity in 60 A.D. Scholars efforts "to promote the intellec terranean. I, therefore, gave my and historians continue to this tual development of our young approval and encouragement to day in their researches to find nation the better to fulfil its the preparations for the holding out more about the period of new and important role". of the second International Book Arab rule during the Middle Compared with other interna Fair in 1980. Ages. Malta shared fully in the tional book fairs this is one of The other decision concerned European revival of culture with the youngest. When the Organis the change of venue. More spa the arrival of the rule of the ing Committee, which I had set cious premises and even better Order of the Knights. The period up, started the preparatory work facilities would be needed if the of the Order was followed by for the first edition they 'were momentum of growth was to be the long period of British domi very much aware that their task maintained. The choice was an nation and influence. was not an easy one. Even after obvious one for by then we were Each of these periods, in its the applications by participants in a position to offer just the particular way, has left its mark started pouring in - and they right premises for the Fair. on our way of life. That is why, came from major publishers and This splendid and historical it has rightly been said, that in booksellers in Europe, North Centre in which we are meeting .. Malta cultures meet in a way Africa, the Middle East and other this morning was until recently a during two weeks - that my essed the power of the computer that is unique to the whole countries further afield - I must dilapidated relic of a 16th cen- Ministry has decided to mount to continue to make the fullest Mediterranean and Europe. How confess we were still a little tury building. It had once housed the complete collection as a per use of technological advances, the ever, it must be made clear that apprehensive of the final out the hospital of the Order of St. manent exhibition. Thus restored better to adapt itself to a con today's Malta is not merely an come. John and was, in . its day, one of to its pristine glory the old build stantly changing world. island museum of things past. Our first Fair was however an the Order's most widely known ing of the Sacra Infermeria is It is indeed remarkable that The emergence of a true outstanding success. The res and famous institutions in being fully utilised for the benefit in these times of rapid technolo national identity, and the long ponse by local and foreign parti Europe. The restoration works of Malta and the Mediterranean gical change the intrinsic impor march towards our freedom cipants was most encouraging have preserved the architectural region as a whole. tance of the printed word as the from foreign domination, has and during the four days of the beauty of the original while This harmonious blend of old repository of human knowledge coincided with a period of intense Fair the Auberge de Baviere be providing our country with a and new is, I think, the most ap and as one of the main channels activity in the creative arts in came a veritable hub of activity. modern and fully equipped con- propriate setting for the holding of communication has essentially general and in the field of Many of the commercial and ference centre. This building has of a Book Fair. Indeed, it is sym remained unchanged. Maltese Literature in particular. cultural contacts established, the thus been given a new lease of bolic of the world of books it This theme of old and new is More books in Maltese have been projects and Joint ventures start life . In it my Ministry has already self. Since the Renaissance, book also of special relevance to the written and published during ed during the hectic days of the held two other exhibitions which fairs have made a great contribu holding of an International Book these last years than during any Fair were to continue and bear have attracted considerable atten- tion to the diffusion of books Fair in Malta. The rich cultural other period in our history. The fruit in the weeks and months tion. The first of these was on and therefore of culture, from heritage of these islands is often publishing trade and the printing that followed. The response of New Horizons in Maltese Educa country to country and across the cause of wonder among the industry in Malta is steadily be the public - some 15,000 visitors tion. Through it we tried to continents. Over the centuries, many thousands of visitors who coming one of our major indus in four days - provided ample make the public aware of the the growing importance of the come to our shores from much tries to cater for the local and proof, if proof were needed, that new and exciting opportunities printed word and its expansion bigger and affluent countries. overseas markets. with its geographical and cultural in the wide field of educational to meet an ever increasing reader- Almost inevitably Malta has a (continued on back page) Page two MALTA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR 17-2I.1V.80 A Souvenir this year three more titles now opened the first will be added to the Maltese Penguin Bookshop on the Ladybird range. island, incorporated in their Merlin Library also operate shop at 57 Old Bakery two retail outlets and have Street, Valletta. m () ;:tJ to G> c.. :r- ID 0 0 C 0 ~ . ID " n c::: --.... 0- 7\ Q - .... Q - ID ID to :J to 0 e5'- :J n Q VI~ ~ 0 :J ID .... 7\ Q I to VI Q to to ~ to 0 0 Q :J 0 0 0 VI 0 7\ 7\ to the local book reading 7\ VI VI VI - public. As dealers in the text-book market, Merlin are suppliers to many schools, colleges and libraries. Merlin Library publish books mainly for children Merlin Library Ltd are one tors, who are themselves and their publications of the leading wholesale among the leading suppliers include a number of hu book distributors on the of books in the U.K. merous short stories as well island. They represent a Merlin Library are actively as adventure stroies which number of publishers in the involved in the book bar- are locally orientated. Dur mass market field, among gain market and are the ing the last months, Merlin which are Ladybird, Cassell, only booksellers on the published the first three Purnell and Macdonald island who publish re- of a series of five work U Educational.

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