A celebration of readers

Abstract

This October the National Book Council has once again organised the Malta Book Festival. The popularity and success of this event prompt us to reflect on its celebratory nature. The festival is meant to primarily showcase what local publishers have on offer and to provide thousands of visitors with an opportunity to discover new books by local writers. Besides acting as a networking event for those in the publishing industry, the festival allows the public to visit a wide variety of exhibitor stands and attend some of the events forming part of a rich programme aimed at facilitating interaction with books, writing, and performative readings. This is in line with Millicent Weber’s research on literary festivals, the functions of which include celebrating excellence and diversity in writing, promoting and distributing literary culture, and introducing readers to new writers.