The "2026 Asia-Pacific Public Library Forum," organized by theNational Library of Public Information (NLPI), was grandly held on May 14. The forum brought together library directors, experts, and practitioners from eight countries, includingAustralia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, to explore the keys to library transformation in a rapidly changing era. Distinguished guests, includingLiu Kuo-wei, Deputy Minister of Education, and Academician Ovid J. L. Tzeng, Chairman of the Global Strategic Alliance for the Cultivation of Future Talents in Industry and Academia, attended the event, emphasizing the importance of libraries as indicators of a nation’s soft power.
Ma Hsiang-ping, Director of NLPI, noted that while the inaugural forum in 2024 focused on the impact of smart technology, the 2026 theme, "Strategies, Innovation, and Future of Reading Promotion," returns to the library's core mission. In an age where AI is reshaping knowledge, libraries should champion social values such as critical thinking, emotional understanding, and inclusivity. To facilitate seamless international exchange, the forum utilizedAI real-time translation services, showcasing the technological prowess of Taiwan's library sector in achieving the sustainability and sharing of knowledge.
The forum featured three keynote speeches by international leaders sharing visionary insights:

• Professor Chen Chao-chen discussed the values of trust and transparency for future public knowledge institutions.
• Vicki McDonald, State Librarian & CEO of Queensland, Australia (and former IFLA President), shared how librarians and families can build a foundation for lifelong reading.
• Professor Nagatsuka Takashi from Japan (IFLA Section Chair) analyzed the challenges public libraries face in promoting reading culture in future societies.

The forum’s four core sessions included: "From Promotion to Inclusion: Reconstructing the Vision of Universal Reading," "Smart Transformation in Reading: Innovative Library Practices," "Smart Cities and Empathic Experiences: Constructing a Diverse Reading Ecosystem," and "Reading Experience Revolution: Igniting New Momentum for Reading". Experts from the participating Asia-Pacific countries and Taiwan’s six major cities shared in-depth case studies onrobotics, digital transformation, AI data applications, and gamified reading.
Director  Hsiang-ping Ma stated that NLPI has been committed to using technology to enhance services, such as the smart librarian "Xiao Shu,"AI book selection, and the "PLUS SPACE" digital co-creation area, which encourages readers to move from consumption to creation. As technology advances, libraries must take on the crucial responsibility of practicing knowledge equity and empowering citizens.
As Taiwan's first national-level library to offer "dual-track" (physical and digital) reading, NLPI will continue to serve as an exchange platform for the Asia-Pacific region. Through the exchange of experiences at this forum, NLPI hopes to build consensus and deepen cooperation, injecting innovative energy into public libraries across the region to create an inclusive and forward-looking reading environment.