National Taiwan Library Introduction
The National Taiwan Library, nestled within the No. 4 Park, has a history of over a century and was previously known as the Taiwan Governor-General's Library established before World War II. The library, founded in 1915, was Taiwan's first modern library and the largest library during the Japanese colonial period, responsible for guiding the development of library services across the island of Taiwan. The library's collection dates back to the "Taiwan Literature Library" established by the Japanese at the Tamsui Pavilion (the site of the Qing Dynasty De-Ying Academy). By wartime, 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 office building to the northwest of the Governor-General's Office, which was damaged by American bombing during World War II. Fortunately, the then-director, Qiao Shan Zhong, successfully evacuated most of the collection, allowing it to survive the ravages of war. Due to the extensive area of the library, services were planned to assist the public in locating books by age and audience groups. A "Book Hospital" was established for the restoration of historical collections, offering both Eastern and Western book repair services while periodically allowing the public to observe the "healing" process of the books. Additionally, the "Quiet Thought Corridor" outside the library, designed in classical archway style, has become a popular photo spot for many visitors.
