A must-visit list: Taiwan’s top 10 most beautiful libraries as voted nationwide

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

The “2015 Taiwan Top 10 Must-Visit Libraries” online voting campaign, organized by the Library Association of the Republic of China, will continue until September 30. A total of 68 libraries across the country are participating in the vote. After the voting period ends, the results will be announced on October 2. The top 10 libraries with the highest number of votes will receive assistance from the Library Association of the Republic of China to apply for inclusion in the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) list of 1001 libraries to see before you die.

A total of 68 libraries are taking part in this voting campaign, spanning across northern, central, southern, eastern Taiwan, and the outlying islands. In addition to three national libraries — the National Central Library, the Public Information Library, and the Taiwan Library — there are also public libraries that have recently opened and become popular attractions, such as Kaohsiung Public Library and the New Taipei City Main Library. There are also many stunning university and college libraries, some of which are designed by internationally renowned architects such as Toyo Ito and Li Tsu-Yuan, offering an eye-opening showcase of library beauty scattered throughout Taiwan.
 
Here are several libraries with distinctive features selected from the list of participants:
● Kaohsiung Public Library

The main building of Kaohsiung Public Library is located in Asia New Bay Area. It officially opened on November 13, 2014 (103/11/13 in Taiwan’s calendar), and began full operations on January 1, 2015 (104/01/01). It is a library co-created by the public sector and citizens, aiming to drive urban transformation through knowledge and reading, and to become a new cultural landmark for Kaohsiung.

● New Taipei City Main Library

The new main building of New Taipei City Main Library opened in May, offering 24-hour reading services to accommodate readers’ nightlife. With an architectural exterior resembling stacked books, the new main library blends tradition with digital elements. In addition to being a diamond-rated green energy library that “breathes,” it also breaks traditional library concepts by pioneering 24-hour service among all libraries in Taiwan, bringing greater innovation and vitality to New Taipei City’s reading services.

● Dadong Art Library of Kaohsiung Public Library

Dadong Art Library is Taiwan’s first specialized art library among public libraries. Located within the Dadong Arts and Culture Center complex in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung, it is a branch of Kaohsiung Public Library. The building has three floors, covering approximately 1,118 ping (about 3,690 square meters). As one of the most distinctive branches of the Kaohsiung Public Library system, the entire library focuses on art, aiming to deepen art education and promote the widespread understanding of artistic knowledge.

● National Dong Hwa University Library and Information Center