44,000 books are missing from public libraries

More than 44,000 books are currently missing from Malta’s national libraries, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt. That is around seven per cent of all the books held in the State-owned collection, a spokeswoman for the libraries told this newspaper. There are some 655,000 books on the shelves, spread across more than 55 libraries. However, although efforts are being made to encourage more to visit the aisles and pick out a book, some are less inclined to return their borrowed titles once they have finished with them. READ: The demise of the public library The libraries’ spokeswoman was quick to point out, when asked for information on borrowing, that the figure for missing books was “subjective”. She said some of the books might by now be outdated or worn out. It was not clear how many of the 44,000 had been removed from circulation for this purpose, she added. Asked what action could be taken against those borrowers who do not return books, the spokesman said libraries could not issue fines. “However, we can block the borrower the moment one of his or her books is overdue,” she said. The libraries can also request that the beastly borrowers fork out the cost of the books.