A group of Maltese publishing houses has called for urgent action from respective Government entities to address the critical state that the local publishing industry finds itself in.

In a joint statement released on Monday (today), BDL Books, ĊAK Ltd, Horizons, Kite Group, Kotba Calleja, Merlin Publishers and Midsea Books highlighted the pressing needs of local publishers and professionals working in the sector, ranging from printing houses to designers.

“Malta’s publishing industry is going through continuous transformation with serious challenges and risks to operations, and the expectations of readers and consumers have changed. At the same time, the costs of production, paper and distribution, including postage, have risen while bookshops have continuously decreased so that a sector which was already very small and vulnerable, has continued to suffer,” they said.

They highlighted the need for them to have dialogues with respective Government entities, providing concrete proposals and solutions.

The group of publishing houses represents a wide range of operators, which occupy around 75 per cent of market share.

“What brings these publishing houses together is not just the love for Maltese books, but also their dedication that results in tangible investment, despite the market and profits always decreasing,” they affirmed.

The publishing houses stated that they help keep Maltese literature and publications alive, ranging from textbooks and research publications to leisure reading.

“Maltese books contribute to our knowledge of who we are as people, from where we have come from to where we are going. The losses of this would mean the accelerated loss of collective memory, language, and distinct Maltese idioms, all pillars that on them rest our daily interactions,” the publishing houses continued.

As a result, they called for urgent and direct intervention into the “critical state” that the industry and its operators find themselves in. They said Government has to recognise this and invest substantially so that the sector can keep moving forward. The publishing houses stressed that this sector has been “pushed aside for too long and it deserves much better than this.”

They said that they appreciated initiatives taken by the Malta Book Council, yet also noted that its prizes and funds often did not favour the publishing industry and its operators, without whom books would not survive.

The publishing houses stated that they are proposing a range of solutions that could be implemented in a short space of time and could contribute to sustained growth within the sector.

“Whatever strategy for Maltese books and the publishing industry requires the prioritisation of long-term sustainability of publishing operators, which has to start by recognising that the number of publishers and the market are small,” they stated.

They said that this statement was only the start of active dialogue from publishers so that they can increase knowledge on the work and needs of the sector.

“As publishers, we will be working in favour of operators and all entities working to help Maltese books by participating in positive initiatives for the sector,” they stated.