National Taiwan Library
Encyclopedia
The National Taiwan Library is the oldest public library in Taiwan
. Founded in 1914, the library is home to a large collection of documents concerning the history, culture, politics and geography of Taiwan.
as the on the order of governor Sakuma Samata
. The library's first permanent home on Bo'ai Road (博愛路) in Taipei
was destroyed in a US bombing raid during World War II
.
After the Nationalists
took over control of the island following Japan's defeat in World War II, the library was renamed the Taiwan Provincial Library and moved to temporary accommodation. The implication of this name, as well as all the subsequent names, is that Taiwan is only one part of the Republic of China
.
In 1947, it was again renamed, this time to Taiwan Provincial Taipei Library and it was under this name that the library was relocated to Xinsheng South Road (新生南路) in 1963.
The current name of the library was chosen in 1973, with the full official title being National Central Library, Taiwan Branch . After outgrowing the premises in Taipei city, the library was relocated to the 8-23 Memorial Park in Zhonghe, Taipei County
(now New Taipei City) in 2004.
In 2007, Huang Wen-ling was appointed as the twentieth director of the National Taiwan Library, and the first woman to hold the post.
era in Taiwan (i.e. pre-1895). There are 210,000 documents from the Japanese era (1895–1945) and the collection has been continuously added to since then. The library's aim is to provide a dedicated research centre for people interested in Taiwan Studies, offering traditional written material sources as well as information resources for researchers to locate the documents or information needed.
Services for the visually impaired are also a key focus for the institution, with a collection of 12,000 Braille
books together with information technology resources for readers.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Founded in 1914, the library is home to a large collection of documents concerning the history, culture, politics and geography of Taiwan.
History
The library was founded in 1914 during the Japanese colonial periodTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
as the on the order of governor Sakuma Samata
Sakuma Samata
-External links:*...
. The library's first permanent home on Bo'ai Road (博愛路) in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
was destroyed in a US bombing raid during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the Nationalists
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
took over control of the island following Japan's defeat in World War II, the library was renamed the Taiwan Provincial Library and moved to temporary accommodation. The implication of this name, as well as all the subsequent names, is that Taiwan is only one part of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
In 1947, it was again renamed, this time to Taiwan Provincial Taipei Library and it was under this name that the library was relocated to Xinsheng South Road (新生南路) in 1963.
The current name of the library was chosen in 1973, with the full official title being National Central Library, Taiwan Branch . After outgrowing the premises in Taipei city, the library was relocated to the 8-23 Memorial Park in Zhonghe, Taipei County
Taipei County
New Taipei City is the most populous city of Taiwan. The area includes a substantial stretch of Taiwan's northern coastline and surrounds the Taipei Basin...
(now New Taipei City) in 2004.
In 2007, Huang Wen-ling was appointed as the twentieth director of the National Taiwan Library, and the first woman to hold the post.
Collection
The library is home to a large collection of documents related to Taiwan, some dating back to the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
era in Taiwan (i.e. pre-1895). There are 210,000 documents from the Japanese era (1895–1945) and the collection has been continuously added to since then. The library's aim is to provide a dedicated research centre for people interested in Taiwan Studies, offering traditional written material sources as well as information resources for researchers to locate the documents or information needed.
Services for the visually impaired are also a key focus for the institution, with a collection of 12,000 Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
books together with information technology resources for readers.