Taichung inaugurates Taiwan’s 1st audio library

2014-09-12

Taiwan’s first audiobook library was inaugurated Sept. 10 in Taichung City, enhancing special education standards for the visually impaired in central Taiwan.

Situated at Huei-Ming School and Home for Blind Children, the Daya District library offers 1,750 audio publications and spoken texts. It is poised to play a significant role in enriching the lives of young students and senior citizens suffering eye problems in the region.

Taichung Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun said the facility brings a wealth of new material within reach of residents. “This is a positive development reflecting the commitment of the local government to improving the cultural landscape of the city.”

Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Huei-Ming Principal Lai Hung-yi said the facility used to rely on low-quality recordings of texts read by teachers. “The professionally produced content gives free rein to students’ imaginations, fostering the development and growth of their mental capacities.”

A Huei-Ming student said the sounds of the ocean in one audiobook were so emotive, he was instantly reminded of the refreshing feel of the sea in southern Taiwan’s Kenting. “It felt as if I were right there on the beach. I cannot wait to listen to all the books.”

The facility is Taichung’s 34th Philanthropic Library to date. Established by Nantou County-based Taiwan Reading and Culture Foundation in 2005, PL boasts a reader base of 30 million through 197 libraries throughout Taiwan, as well as one at the Cerritos Chinese School in California.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221500&CtNode=413)