New Taipei, San Francisco ink library tie-up

2015/10/23

A memorandum of understanding facilitating exchanges and interactions between New Taipei City and San Francisco Public Libraries was concluded Oct. 21 in Banqiao District.

Under the pact, the two sides will establish a platform for book swapping and personnel visits, as well as organizing a vast array of jointly staged reading-related events.

NTCL Director Tang Lian-cheng said the libraries have a lot in common like notably large immigrant communities. “This provides a firm foundation for building stronger community and cultural facility ties.”

Such efforts are underscored by the May inauguration of NTCL’s 6,136-square-meter Banqiao main building, which boasts Taiwan’s biggest collection of 650,000 books and 1,100-plus journals and magazines.

Resembling a giant bookshelf, the state-of-the-art facility is a great source of pride and cultural inspiration for the northern Taiwan metropolis. In addition, it was recently voted among the country’s top three must-visit libraries.

“Our facility’s growing list of honors is testament to NTCL’s goal of enhancing the local cultural environment and promoting reading among residents,” Tang said, adding that the library aims to assist its Northern California counterpart in making the same headway.

Established in 1878, the 27-facility SFPL is the largest public library system in California and the first in the U.S. to offer a Chinese-language website.

“Book swapping can substantively complement SFPL’s collection of Mandarin publications and extend NTCL’s reach to the U.S. city’s large Chinese-speaking population,” Tang said.

“It is an honor to become SFPL’s first sister facility worldwide, and we look forward to taking this strategic partnership to new heights going forward.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238120&ctNode=2194&mp=9)