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]

HeyU! A dynamic new magazine for children and teenagers

A new magazine in English for children and teenagers has just been published! It offers both a variety of articles intended to please its readers, and a layout that is colourful and dynamic.

The magazine is the result of research into what young people like to read, coupled with a desire to see the English language better liked by students in our schools.

HeyU! magazine, edited and produced by well known writer, cartoonist and academic Dr. Gorg Mallia, and published by Joe Mizzi of Midsea Books, contains a collection of articles written in accessible English by some of Malta’s leading writers, aimed at conveying enjoyment and information. At the same time the magazine intends to give its readers a solid language base.

HeyU! also prides itself at being only a stepping stone to reading enjoyment, with “Link boxes” at the end of most articles suggesting further internet reading about the topics that are presented to the readers.

The first issue of HeyU! is 64 pages long, and provides reading about subjects that range from Manga/Anime to The Museum of Archaeology; from technology to English Literature; from comics to essays.

The first issue is on sale in schools in Malta and Gozo, and at all the leading stationeries and bookshops on the Island.

HeyU! Number one contains the following:

• Films about the Marvel characters, by film critic Johan Galea;

• Comic pages drawn by Mark Scicluna, Victor Pulis, Gorg Mallia and Samwel Mallia;

• A look at popular Manga and Anime by Helena Fountain;

• A wonderful story by well known writer Tony C. Cutajar;

• An article about Liverpool’s anniversary celebrations by Maria Pace who also assists the editor in this magazine;

• An interview with popular local singing star Ira Losco;

• All about Geoffrey Chaucer by academic and author Louis J. Scerri;

• An article and middle-page poster about Angelina Jolie, the HeyU! Star for this issue;

• A perceptive travelogue, “On Ta’ Gurdan Hill”, by the inimitable Kilin;

• An overview of Shotokan Karate by instructor Brian Agius;

• A first look at the operating system Vista by well-known technology expert Martin Debattista;

• Illustrated articles about The Chemical Brothers, Johnny Depp and Gwen Stefani;

• A visit to the National Museum of Archaeology, by its curator Sharon Sultana;

• A clever essay about The Maltese Wind by reviewer and essayist Norbert Ellul Vincenti;

• A beautiful photo and description of the Painted Frog, by noted environmentalist photographer and writer Paul Portelli;

• A photo essay about Copenhagen;

• And information about the video game “Kingdom Hearts II”.

A small booklet suggesting uses for the articles as part of classroom lessons is also being distributed free by the publishers to teachers of English in Malta and Gozo.

The main thrust of the magazine can be found in this quote of Dr. Mallia’s parting shot in his first editorial, “We would like to stay around, bringing you fun things to read about in English, making your life a little brighter and a lot more interesting.”

If the first issue is any indication, then HeyU! is likely to stay around for a long, long time.

Some of the members of the new National Book Council at the end of the first meeting. From left to right Ġorġ Mallia, Greta Borg Carbott, Sergio Grech, Trevor Żahra, Joe Debattista and Charles Casha

The Honorable Minister for Education, Youth and Employment, Dr. Louis Galea, has reappointed Dr. Ġorġ Mallia as chairman of the National Book Council. The new council will be in office for two years (2007-2009).

The members of the new National Book Council are:

Chairman: Dr. Ġorġ Mallia, Secretary: Mr. Joe Debattista, Members: Mr. Philip Borg, Ms. Greta Borg Carbot, Ms. Priscilla Camilleri, Mr. Charles Casha, Mr. Sergio Grech, Mr. Paul Mizzi, Ms. Martes Paris, and Mr. Trevor Żahra.

[March 16, 2007]

The students following the PRINTING PROCESS unit given by Dr. Ġorġ Mallia at the Centre for Communication Technology, University of Malta, are hard at work on the thirteenth issue of the annual Communications' students magazine The Scream. A class photo was taken outside the Administration Building at the University of Malta on Friday 2^nd March.

If you click the photo, you will be able to see The Scream website, which, as of this posting, is under construction.

[March 12, 2007]

November is BOOK month in Malta, with so many activities related to the promotion of the book organised by the NATIONAL BOOK COUNCIL, chaired by Gorg Mallia. Below are captioned photos of some of these.

[November 20, 2006]

Left: Ġorġ Mallia talks to the guests as the Chairman of the National Book Council during the opening ceremony of the 2006 edition of the Book Fair. The fair was held again, after a hiatus of a large number of years, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. In the photo can be seen members of the National Book Council,  Mr. Paul Mizzi, Mr. Joe Debattista, Mr. Philip Borg, and Mr. Vincent Vella, the Minister of Education, Dr. Louis Galea, the director of the Italian Institute of Culture, and Dr. Cecilia Borg, Director General of Education.

Right: The Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Laurence Gonzi, visitied the 22nd Malta Book Fair on the 15th November, 2006. He was shown round the stands by National Book Council Chairman Dr. Ġorġ Mallia. In the photo both can be seen at the Merlin Library stand with Mr. Arthur Gruppetta. In the background can be seen Ms. Marica Vella (of the office of the PM), Director of Libraries Mr. Philip Borg, and NBC Communications Officer Mr. Sergio Grech.

Left: The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Alfred Sant, visited the Book Fair on Sunday, 19th November. He was accompanied by the two deputy leaders of the Malta Labour Party, Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon, and the spokesman for Education, Carmelo Abela. He was shown around the fair by Dr. Ġorġ Mallia. Here he is at the KKM stand with Paul and Joe Mizzi.

Right: Dr. Austin Bencini of Allied Group of Companies, receiving a prize as publisher from the Minister of Education, Dr. Louis Galea, during the Ceremony honouring winners of books published during 2005. Dr. Ġorġ Mallia, chairman of the National Book Council, can also be seen, giving a certificate to Fiorella de Maria, author of the winning book in the section of fiction books in other languages in the Fiction category of the National Book Prize. The ceremony was held at the MCC on the 17th of November.