PULLU takes a bow

After a five-year hiatus, the last of the PULLU books for young children has been published, in time for this year's Book Fair. Pullu u d-Dinja Nadifa (Pullu and the Clean World) has an ecological undercurrent, and it also brings to an end the series of books (six in all) that have proved so popular with Maltese children.

[November 12, 2009]

The 25th edition of the Malta Book Fair

The Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta becomes a mecca for book lovers in Malta between the 11th and the 15th November as the 25th edition of the Malta Book Fair goes into overdrive. Twenty participants have filled the great hall to the end, and many thousands of books are the main exhibits. In the first photo, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Hon. Dolores Cristina, is seen giving her speech as she opens the fair on November 10, with members of the National Book Council standing behind her. From left to right, Dr Ġorġ Mallia (chairman), Mr Philip Borg, Mr Joe Debattista (secretary), Mr Charles Casha, Mr Trevor Żahra, Mr Sergio Grech (Executive Director), Ms Victoria Galea, and Ms Marisa Attard. In the second photo, taken on November 11, the Prime Minister of Malta, the Hon. Dr Lawrence Gonzi, admires a book in the presence of the Council chairman.

[November 11, 2009]

The National Book Council in full swing

The latest incarnation of the National Book Council (Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb), chaired by Ġorġ Mallia, is working simulataneously in a number of areas, preparing a law about the Maltese book, in the initial stages of a nation wide research on reading, organising a writing contest to promote literature for young adults, just out of the Maltese Book Fair at the Auberge d'Italie, constantly updating its books-in-print register, about to issue the call for submissions for the National Book Prize, in the preparation stages for a national radio programme, in touch with Malta's ambassadors abroad to help diffuse information about Maltese books, writers and publishers abroad ... and generally working in all areas that help promote books. And the National Book Council even has its FACEBOOK page (click here to enter). The present incarnation of the council is made up of (from left to right) Charles Casha, Philip Borg, Joe Debattista (Secretary), Dr William Zammit, Charles Caruana Carabez, Victoria Galea, Dr Ġorġ Mallia (Chairman), Marisa Attard, Martes Paris, Priscilla Camilleri, Sergio Grech (Executive Director), and Trevor Żahra.

[June 25, 2009]

Maltese cartoonists at the Hellenic Parliament

Maltese cartoonists Ġorġ Mallia and Maurice Tanti Burlò were among cartoonists from all the countries in the European Union participating in the prestigious exhibition at the Greek Parliament in Athens, entitled: “Political Cartoons in Europe of 27”. The exhibition was organised by the Hellenic Parliament, in cooperation with the Greek Cartoonists Association and was officially opened on Monday, October 13, 2008. The exhibition runs till October 25. It was held to celebrate cartoon art and its journalistic impact on society throughout the European Union. The participating cartoonists were hosted by the Parliament itself during celebrations held in honour of the popular art. Dr Mallia and Mr Tanti Burò were invited personally by the Hellenic Parliament to submit three published representative cartoons. Allied newspapers cartoonist Maurice Tanti Burlò exhibited cartoons published locally, and Ġorġ Mallia has shown cartoons from The Economic Update and a One Family comic strip from The Sunday Times.

[October 13, 2008]

Workshop in Corfu, Greece

Ġorġ Mallia gave a workshop on New Technology induced Social and Cognitive change and implications for the Tertiary Classroom during the ICICTE conference held on Corfu, Greece. The workshop was well-attended, and an active and dynamic discussion ensued, providing some useful suggestions regarding how to adapt the University classroom to the changes in learners who are active new media and social software users.

[July 24, 2008]

Interviewed in Illum

Ġorġ Mallia was interviewed by Franica Pulis in the Sunday, April 14 edition of the newspaper Illum, in preparation for World Book Day on April 23. The interview (in Maltese) was about his vision as chairman of the National Book Council. The Council's work, plans, and pending projects were discussed. Clicking the screenshot will take you to the web version of the interview. A photo of the newspaper interview can be accessed HERE.

[April 13, 2008]

Lectures at the University of Lund

In early March of 2008, Dr Ġorġ Mallia delivered a number of lectures to undergraduates of the Media and Communications Department at the University of Lund, Sweden. The lectures were about New Media Impacts, and about Personal Presentation. They were well received. This is the third year running that Dr Mallia has lectured at the University of Lund.

[March 17, 2008]

Book donation by National Book Council

On Saturday, February 23, 2008, Dr Ġorġ Mallia, on behalf of the National Book Council, presented to Mr Philip Borg, Director of Libraries, over 550 books, bought by the Council from those published and self-published books that excelled in the last edition of the National Book Prize. One of the main aims of the Council is to put books in the hands of the reading public, and this donation, along with the large donation to the Public libraries given last year, gives the Maltese lending libraries another two thousand local publications to be enjoyed by everyone. For the ceremony judges that formed part of the judging panels of the last National Book Prize were also invited, and some of these can be seen in the photo along with members of the National Book Council.

[February 23, 2008]

Seminar in Malmö, Sweden

On Tuesday December 18, 2007, Ġorġ Mallia led a seminar in the southern Swedish city, Malmö, about the personal communications side of self branding. Close to fifty people involved in diverse businesses in managerial and administrative capacities attended. Reaction was very positive. A follow-up was held on the following day. The seminars were held at Midzone, in the city centre.

[December 19, 2007]

The National Book Prize

[2007 edition]

The National Book Prize is the most prestigious book prize of its sort on the island. 130 books published in 2006 were submitted for the many categories of the Prize. The prize giving ceremony was held this year in the Auberge the Castille, seat of Maltese administration, under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Malta, the Honourable Laurence Gonzi. It was an evening to remember!

[November 29, 2007]

The Book Fair 2007 opens

The 2007 edition of the Book Fair opened with speeches by Mr. Philip Borg, Director of Libraries, Dr. Ġorġ Mallia, Chairman of the National Book Council, and the Honourable Dr. Louis Galea, Minister of Education, Youth and Employment. In the picture Dr. Galea is seen giving his speech, with Mr. Borg, Mr. Trevor Żahra, Dr. Mallia, Mr. Paul Mizzi, Mr. Joe Debattista and Ms. Priscilla Camilleri of the National Book Council in the bacground.

[November 13, 2007]

National Book Council press conference launches website and Book Fair

In a press conference by the National Book Council, the Council's new corporate website, www.ktieb.org.mt, was launched. Designed by Ms Emma Pullicino of Desktop Creations, the site is provides a peek into the ongoing work and projects of the hard working Council. This is only the first part of the website project. The second part comprises a full archive of all books in print in Malta, searchable by a number of fields. A committee set up by the Council is hard at work on the preparations.

During the press conference, this year's Book Fair, to be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, between the 14 and 18 November, was also introduced to the press. This year's fair promises to be chock full of cultural activities, and a veritable book bonanza.

The conference was addressed by National Book Council chairman Ġorġ Mallia, chairman of the Book Fair Organising Committe, Philip Borg, and website designer Emma Pullicino. Sergio Grech, NBC executive director, and Joe Debattista, secretary, were also present.

[October 27, 2007]