2024 Asia-Pacific Public Library Forum In Taiwan

Written by／De Yi Chen　Photographer／Zhen Feng Zhuang

Photo by Seoul National University Library provided

Data analytics not only improves the operational efficiency and service quality of libraries, but also helps libraries better understand the needs of patrons and provide more precise and customized services, helping libraries to develop and innovate in the digital era.

Seoul National University（SNU） is one of the premier universities in Korea. The Central Library on the campus consists of two buildings: the Main Library, which has a history of nearly 50 years and specializes in book collections, and the new Kwanjeong Library, completed in 2015, provides a user-friendly space with study rooms for discussion and research, as well as audio-visual rooms, open reading spaces, and multimedia rooms to meet the diverse needs of modern library patrons.

Kwanjeong Library intends to create new functions and images that are different from those of the past. Instead of a cold soundproof wall, the library will utilize a small stream or garden to separate the quiet area from the discussion space to avoid mutual interference; and the sofa area will allow students to take a comfortable nap before continuing their studies, breaking the impression that sleep is prohibited in traditional libraries.

The 「LikeSNU」 platform　 Provide comprehensive library resources for internal and external readers.

Dukjin Chang, Director of the SNU, highlighted that the huge plaque in front of the library celebrates the recognition of the American Library Association's (ALA) International Award for Innovation for the LikeSNU Platform, a new program implemented by the library.

The "LikeSNU Platform Project" launched its first version in March 2023, and the upgraded service will be officially launched in March 2024. It will continue to be developed by analyzing a wide range of big data, using technologies such as topic modeling (14,000 topics have been analyzed so far), social network analysis, AI deep learning technology, and massive data processing technology, among others.

Dukjin Chang emphasizes, "Maybe you didn't get into Seoul National University, but you can still use the platform to see what professors and students at Seoul National University are reading," he says. The purpose of the platform is to create better learning channels and opportunities for all users, not only teachers and students on campus, but also the public, who can not only see other people's loan lists and other information, but also track their favorite book lists.

Many people stop reading when they grow up because they don't know where to start, or they just blindly follow the hot lists, so it's easy for them to get bored and give up reading. Dukjin Chang believes that libraries, as the guardians of knowledge, should provide readers with book lists that are suitable for them, so that they can regain the fun and passion of reading. The "LikeSNU Platform" system delivers a book recommendation newsletter to subscribers at 10 a.m. every day and provides a map of books for extended reading.

In 2022, 506 first-year students borrowed a book at least once when they entered the university in March, and in March 2024, the number of students who borrowed a book at least once increased by 50% overall. In December 2023, Dukjin Chang accidentally saw a blogger who was not a faculty or staff member of the university sharing his experience of using the platform on his webpage, and the title of the article was "A Christmas gift from the SNU", which showed that the public was happy to use it as well.

Anticipate changes in reader demand by analyzing historical data and trends

For on-campus students, LikeSNU integrates students' borrowing records, course selection lists, course syllabi, etc. to recommend books suitable for students' level and courses that can be taken together with electives and provides reference books for users' course selection and level when searching for theses in more difficult specialties. When students select courses, they can also see the related book lists, thesis lists, and other related courses on campus to further understand the contents of the courses; new theses published by professors are also loaded into the system simultaneously.

Dukjin Chang believes that the quality of data is the key to building such a platform service. LikeSNU platform integrates the data of 60,000 readers, about 2.5 million borrowing data, collection data, school essays, students' course selections, and syllabi over the past 10 years for the system to analyze and then provide customized book recommendations.

Presenting a new look for libraries in the digital age

"SNU Collection" is another reading recommendation service on the LikeSNU platform. Readers can create and share their own reading lists on their personal pages, see what other readers are enjoying, and follow each other or import each other's lists into their own, which Dukjin Chang laughs is also a platform for readers to interact with each other.

Dukjin Chang reiterated that "the function of universities and libraries is to create, teach, promote and disseminate knowledge, and to serve the community with that knowledge," and that this is one of the ways in which academic units can reach out to the community, as well as the future direction of libraries. Libraries should find innovative ways to get out of the future, which is a positive attitude towards the future.

Written by／Mi Chi Tsai　Photographer／Zhen Feng Zhuang

Photo by Shutterstock provided

COVID-19 has not only rewritten the history of epidemic prevention, but also changed the social pattern in response to the epidemic prevention policy. The impact of the epidemic was widespread, with public places at all levels bearing the brunt of the impact, including changes in service models, operational challenges, and financial pressures. In the early days of the epidemic, organizations were in a state of panic, and even libraries were not immune.

The epidemic has prompted libraries to accelerate their adaptation to digitization and respond flexibly to new challenges. At the same time, it has also revealed the vulnerability of resource allocation, such as crowd control, limitation of use of venues, and shortage of librarians' manpower, etc. How to effectively reorganize the existing resources and feed them back into the library services has become a troubling issue.

Changes and challenges in service models

Professor Emeritus Shu Sien Tseng of Fo Guang University（FGU） presented the topic of "The Impact of COVID-19 on Libraries and the Digital Transformation of Taiwan Public Libraries", which centered on three key points.

Firstly, she discussed the impact of the epidemic on Taiwan public libraries; secondly, he introduced how Taiwan public libraries rapidly realized digital transformation during the epidemic; and finally, she shared the current status and goals of the "Building a Cooperative and Shared Public Library System Project".

The challenge of COVID-19 to library management decision-making and leadership should not be underestimated. Shu Sien Tseng illustrated that, according to an analysis of US literature, library leaders and librarians were ill-prepared for crisis management, and poorly programmed to work remotely, which prevented a smooth transition of library services during the outbreak and made the value of libraries questionable. How to provide services online and safeguard the well-being of librarians became a major challenge.

Furthermore, the complexity of the decision-making process on whether libraries should be open or not had far-reaching implications for library operations and management and emphasized the importance of flexible and efficient management decisions.

Epidemic accelerates digital transformation of libraries

In terms of how public libraries could quickly realize digital transformation during the epidemic, Shu Sien Tseng believes that we can learn from the digital transformation strategy of the National Library of the Czech Republic. They passed an amendment to the copyright law to allow libraries to provide free access to previously published books and journals on the Internet. They also provided free digital library services to university students, teachers and researchers, and introduced the service of "verification through bank identification", which greatly enhanced the convenience of library services.

The effectiveness of the "Building a Cooperative and Shared Public Library System Program" in Taiwan is multi-faceted, including enhancing the operational efficiency of municipal public libraries, drawing the attention of county and city leaders to library operations, and strengthening the leadership of county and municipal public libraries. The program also links township libraries to enhance overall operational efficiency and to establish an identity for county and municipal public libraries.

Through the sharing of resources, we not only save operating costs, but also enhance our competitiveness. At the same time, the establishment of standardized operational procedures ensures consistency in service delivery. Emphasis is also placed on the professional development of librarians and the establishment of a quality management follow-up assessment system to enhance service quality. In addition, the development of specialized thematic libraries can further deepen the services provided by public libraries.

Continuing to innovate technology and upgrade library services

It is impossible to predict the future of public libraries, but Shu Sien Tseng believes that "we can create it through positive efforts," and that strengthening leadership skills, promoting digital transformation, and enhancing influence are of paramount importance. Libraries are not only advocates of reading, but also enhance the public's intellectual competitiveness and play the role of knowledge centers. Digital transformation is the necessary and best way to do this, because only through continuous improvement can libraries realize their unlimited potential.

Written by／Mi Chi Tasi、De Yi Chen　

Photographer／Zhen Feng Zhuang

Photo by  NLPI、NLB、Shutterstock provided

The recently concluded COMPUTEX 2024 Taipei has set off an AI whirlwind throughout Taiwan, making the public realize that we have entered the AI era, and technological advances have led to AI fervor in industry, government, and academia, as well as opening a new service model for libraries.

As technologies such as intelligence, technology and automation become more mature, various sectors are gradually applying them to their daily lives to enhance efficiency and create better service quality.

Libraries, art galleries, museums, and other cultural and educational venues are no exception, and the importance of ‘smart technology’ is demonstrated by how to use technology to help serve the constant flow of visitors and solve their problems or needs with limited manpower.

National Library of Public Information　 Creating diversified digital library services

Since its establishment in 1923, National Library of Public Information（NLPI）has witnessed the transformation of library services from traditional to intelligent. In 1994, NLPI introduced an automation system and started automated services; in 2007, NLPI introduced RFID chips and built a digital collection service network and an e-book service platform, which enable the public to enjoy the convenience of digital reading from the cloud.

Chiung Hui Hsu, head of the Reading Advisory Section, shared that NLPI launched the “iLib Guider” app in 2018, which allows readers to complete the process of borrowing books by using their mobile phones, and which won the Top 100 Innovative Services Award of Taiwan Information Month in the same year. In addition, the “Micro Library” and “self-service book reservation and pickup area” were launched to provide zero-touch services. Patrons can easily borrow books by using their mobile phones or library cards, eliminating the hassle of waiting in queues and enhancing the efficiency of the library services.

She also introduced NLPI's AI librarian “Xiao Shu”, the first generative AI librarian in Taiwan, which can not only provide intelligent consultation but also chat with readers. Compared with traditional robots, “Xiao Shu” can mimic human thinking and answer more complex questions, providing better reading services to the public and effectively sharing the workload of librarians.

These innovations not only enhance the operational efficiency of libraries, but also enrich and diversify the experience of patrons. “In the future, NLPI will continue to explore the application of smart technology to provide more personalized and precise services to our patrons”.

Applying AI intelligence to create a more user-friendly experience

Zhong Xin Zhou, a professor at Tung Hai University's（THU） Department of Information Engineering, who has partnered with NLPI to create the AI intelligent librarian “Xiao Shu”, believes that the library's multifunctionality has long gone beyond its traditional role as a custodian of books, from writing reports to attending online seminars, or from using free Wi-Fi to accessing digital content. How will smart technology be applied to the transformation of library services?

“Libraries need to attract people to them through innovative user experiences.” Zhong Xin Zhou further explores the user experience of three different generations: the first is the Internet, which has changed people's behaviors by making access to information more convenient; the second is the mobile phone, which has made it easier for people to read books and information more instantly and easily, but also brought the problem of distraction; and the third is the AI, which has attracted heated debates in various circles recently, especially with the emergence of Chat GPT, which has made the service scope of AI more popular.

Zhong Xin Zhou mentioned that the AI intelligent librarian “Xiao Shu” used by NLPI is the result of joint design and development with the team from the Centre for Software Engineering and Technology of THU. “Xiao Shu” can not only provide reader service consultation and book recommendations, but also interact with readers like friends. The successful application of “Xiao Shu” demonstrates how AI can enhance library services and break the limitations of traditional predictive AI to achieve an interactive effect like that of real librarians.

Since the launch of “Xiao Shu”, many readers have interacted with it and received help from it. This is the first time that Zhong Xin Zhou and his team have applied AI to library work, and it is also a very successful case, which shows us that library services can combine with smart technology to develop more diversified and convenient library services and create a more humanized user experience.

National Library Board　 Various parties have set up centers to encourage the public to borrow books.

The National Library Board （NLB） is responsible for the management of public libraries in Singapore, including public libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. There are a total of 28 public libraries, which provide lending of books and materials as well as organizing activities and exhibitions.

According to the 2023 statistics, there were 19.8 million visits and 36.3 million loans, including 24.5 million loans of physical materials and 11.9 million loans of digital materials. The books in the National Library are for reference only. Members of the public can make enquiries at the library or borrow them from public libraries. The National Library requires all authors of books published in Singapore to provide a legal deposit, while the National Archives of Singapore holds all documents related to Singapore's history, such as pre-independence photographs or signed treaties.

Meng Wei Huang, Deputy Director of Technology Services of the NLB of Singapore, said, “The first and foremost task in establishing a public library is to choose the location. We hope that libraries will be in places that are easily accessible to readers, and we have even allowed libraries to move into shopping malls and community centers, so that when people come to do their shopping, they will be able to borrow a book and go home with them.” The libraries have set up “Self-service Book Loan Stations” or “Mobile Book Reservation Stations” at different locations in the urban areas, considering the needs of different groups, such as wheelchair-bound readers or the elderly, so that readers can borrow and return books in the most convenient way at any time.

Introduction of automation and robotics to save manpower and improve work efficiency

With robotics and automation, readers can find books easily and return them more conveniently. Meng Wei Huang went on to explain that automation and robotics can take over repetitive tasks and provide more convenient and user-friendly services to patrons.

Like the public libraries observed that patrons who borrowed and returned books did not move smoothly, and if they wanted to return books before borrowing them, they had to walk through half of the library and then turn back. Later, the libraries set up a few “Mobile Return Boxes” inside the libraries, which not only solved the problem of the movement lines, but also installed RFID-enabled return boxes that would move on their own after being filled up to transport the books to the book classification area, which was sometimes seen by the children chasing after the moving return box situation.

Returned books are sorted through an automated sorting system, which not only sorts the books into categories, but also identifies the originating library of the inter-library books. Meng Wei Huang said that the book sorter operates at a fixed point, so readers can see the process, and children will remember to return the books if they are enthralled.

The Shelf Reading Robot is used to check the books on the shelves after the library closes, and when it finds books that are misplaced, it will report them so that the librarians can come and put them back in their place. Meng Wei Huang said with a laugh that now, books still need to be put back in place manually, and the robot can't open doors or press lift buttons on its own. If the entire process were to be completed by a robot, it would require more costly adjustments or additional functions.

Meng Wei Huang pointed out that libraries use the assistance of intelligent technology to reduce the demand for manpower through the mode of human-machine co-operation, so that librarians can go and do higher-value work. He also mentioned that robots cannot completely replace humans, like the current bookshelf identification robots still have their limitations.

The public has asked, “If the robot falls, will it stand up again? Or if there is a fire, will the robot know how to escape?” Meng Wei Huang said that the museum will continue to communicate with the manufacturer, and gradually adjust the robot that best meets the needs of the museum.

Libraries take the lead in digitizing collections and encouraging citation and creativity

The National Library of Korea（NLK）, established in 1945, has 19.59 million digital resources as of December 2023, which is more than the 14.25 million books in its collection. Suejeong Kim, Director of the Digital Development Unit of the NLK, explained that in recent years, the NLK has been cooperating with many Korean cultural, historical and art institutions and libraries to carry out the Digital Collection Project to digitize the contents of each library's collection, and by the end of 2023, 14% of the NLK's collection will have been digitized.

In 2023, the Optical Character Recognition （OCR） program for digital collections will process 1.14 million full-text data, including single volume books, children's books, antiquarian books, and periodicals, with an average recognition rate of 75.69% per annum; AI OCR will also be used to process the full text of 1,825 books; and the archiving of Korean newspapers from 1883 to 1960 will be completed by 2023. The progress of Korean newspapers from 1883 to 1960 is about 99 types and 8.2 million newspaper articles at present.

According to Suejeong Kim, “Digital resources have exploded and brought about revolutionary and innovative changes like the Gutenberg printing press.” Through this digitization, it is possible to revive ancient books, old newspapers, and contemporary materials that have been temporarily lost because of the purification of the Korean language, and to bring about a new wave of cultural renaissance, such as the revival of classic Korean dramas. At the same time, because digitization has spread across the country, knowledge and culture sources such as libraries, museums, and art galleries around the country have invested in and provided materials, so that the public can then easily obtain the content they need in libraries.

NLK also organized a competition to encourage the re-creation of digital resources, and between September and November 2023, seven entries won awards. 2023's winning entry, “The Traces of Literature: Classic Novel Webtoon Project”, was based on the library’s digital version of the classic Korean literary novel Seodongjijeon and used Chat GPT to generate scripts and the AI drawing tool DALLE 3 to draw an online comic. Suejeong Kim laughs, saying that he is also interested in learning how to use AI tools to generate scripts for classic novels and web comics, which have become very popular in recent years.

Enhancing the use of historical data through digital preservation

Suejeong Kim also introduced the Korean Memory Project, a knowledge digital archiving and digital curation project aimed at assisting libraries and national cultural institutions in digitizing resources such as knowledge and cultural traditions and providing digital curation services. The project deals with the ‘memory’ of individuals, nations, and organizations. Currently, 44 organizations are participating in the Korea Memory Platform, and the latest version is expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2024.

The digital curation project begins with the selection of “high value and time sensitive” themes, and the library then digitizes the resources of the curatorial institutions, creates categories, defines standard interpretations of the data, and establishes rules. NLK also operates the Korea Memory Platform and Committee, providing user-oriented services and promoting inter organizational collaboration. The target materials for the project include physical books, videos, photos, exhibition brochures, manuscripts, pamphlets, etc. By December 2023, a total of 261,093 books from 211 institutions will have been digitized.

Suejeong Kim further explains that digital curation is the process of collecting and organizing online resources according to themes or relevance, so that users can search and use them. Through this project, it is hoped that digital resources will become easier to access and use, thus increasing the value of the materials. She also said, ‘Libraries that are familiar with the traditional curatorial process usually have an easy time with digital curation because they are already good at making cross-disciplinary connections,’ she said.

Finally, Suejeong Kim reiterated that the NLK, as a national library and cultural delivery organization, has the main task of adopting an integrative approach to digital curation of knowledge resources and providing the public with more convenient access to materials and methods to support knowledge discovery and research.

Through automation, digitization, AI and other services, the operation of libraries will develop more different orientations, not only to enhance the management efficiency of libraries, improve users' book experience, but also to provide more intelligent and personalized services. With the advancement and development of technology, the role of AI in libraries will become more and more important, and the application of intelligent technology to participate in the library services of various countries has become an inevitable trend.