• Index of this issue

No. 67, March 2010

The National Central Library (NCL) signed a cooperation agreement with the National Library of Mongolia (NLM) on August 31, 2006, to continue exchange visits and interaction with the NLM and Book Palace Children. On July 9, 2009, the two sides opened the "Taiwan Reading Garden" at the Book Palace Children.

ROC Ambassador to Mongolia Tseng Yee-min hosted the inauguration and book donation ceremony. Director-general Karl Min Ku presented the books for the reading room collection on behalf of the NCL. The gift was received by Book Palace Children Director Oyunbileg Damdinsuren on the Mongolian side. A total of 585 books were donated, including over 200 bilingual (Chinese-English) government publications on art and culture and illustrated children's books, as well as stationery materials and educational building block games. The donation represented the sharing of Taiwan's knowledge, experience and friendship with Mongolia. The Taiwan Reading Garden occupies a 98-square-meter space neighboring the U.S., German, French and Swiss reading areas. The collection includes children and adolescents books introducing the technology, culture, education, creative industries and other aspects of Taiwan. In the future, the reading area will host book exhibitions displaying important historical stories related to children and young adults in Taiwan, as well as anthologies, maps, posters, multimedia materials on tradition arts in Taiwan, English translations of Chinese-language books and bilingual (Chinese and English) titles. The reading room will also provide access to a digital database and online resources.

Director-general Karl Min Ku signed the cooperation agreement

The opening of the new reading room represents a major step forward in the NCL's efforts to expand international cooperation ties and contribute to the endeavor of global cultural resource sharing. It also continues in a trend of steadily deepening relations between Taiwan and Mongolia in recent years. Today, Taiwan is an important trading partner of Mongolia. In addition to trade and investment ties, the two sides have also strengthened cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology, and tourism. Education exchanges and cultural studies have helped Taiwan and Mongolia to foster mutual awareness of their society, history and customs, deepening understanding and cooperation between the two sides.

During the ceremony Director-general Ku noted that "Children are the jewels of humanity and the hope of the future. Ensuring that they have the resources to learn is a mission that we cannot ignore. The Taiwan Reading Garden was established at the Book Palace Children on this concept. And the NCL will continue to sign cooperation agreements with Vietnam, Mongolia and other countries so that, through resource sharing, dissemination of information and study, we can win international recognition, heighten our international visibility, and let the world see our efforts."

Taiwan Reading Garden at the Book Palace for Children