National Taiwan Library Introduction
Located within the No. 4 Park, the National Taiwan Library has its origins in the "Taiwan Governor-General's Library" established before World War II, boasting a history of over a century! This library was originally founded in 1915 as the "Taiwan Governor-General's Library," making it Taiwan's first modern library. It was also the largest and most well-stocked library during the Japanese occupation period, tasked with guiding the development of library services across the entire island of Taiwan. The library's collection can trace its roots back to the "Taiwan Library" established by the Japanese at the Tamsui Museum (the site of the Dengying Academy from the Qing Dynasty). By the time of the war, the collection had reached approximately 200,000 volumes in Chinese, Japanese, and Western languages. The Taiwan Governor-General's Library was located in Shuyuan Town, Taipei City, in the former Lottery Bureau building northwest of the Governor's Office. During World War II, the building was damaged by bombing from American forces; fortunately, the then-director, Shan Zhongqiao, successfully evacuated, allowing most of the collection to survive the ravages of war. Due to the library's large area, the management has planned age-appropriate services to help the public find books, and has established a "Book Hospital" for the preservation of its historic collection, conducting repairs on both Chinese and Western books, with regular public viewings of the "book healing" process. Additionally, the "Quiet Thought Corridor" outside the library, designed in a classical arch style, has become a must-capture scene for many visitors!
