Written by／Chiu Ching Ling

Photos provided by the Commonwealth Education Foundation,

Yu Shan Volunteer Foundation,

Taiwan Reading Culture Foundation, and Hsieh Chih Cheng.

Numerous studies have confirmed that reading significantly influences learning ability and future competitiveness. However, disparities in environment, resources, family background, and digital access continue to create a literacy gap between urban and rural children. For the past 20 years, numerous nonprofit organizations have worked tirelessly in various creative ways to sow the seeds of reading in children’s hearts.

In an era dominated by digital learning, books and words are once again drawing public attention. Former Minister of Education, Zeng Zhi Lang, who is dedicated to promoting children’s literacy, remarked, “Reading is the soul of education.” Developing the habit of reading opens a window to the world and lays the foundation for lifelong learning.

In some of Taiwan’s overlooked corners, the only reading materials in children’s homes might be Buddhist scriptures or almanacs. Many have never even owned a book outside of their textbooks. To address this inequality, private organizations and civic groups have acted: some drive bookmobiles deep into the mountains, others build libraries, and many sponsors shared reading programs—doing whatever it takes to get books into children’s hands.

"Hope Reading" Bookmobile: Helping Children Explore the World

“Children from the mountains told me the bookmobile is like a Formosan blue magpie—its open wings filled with books,” laughed Ling Er Xiang, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Education Foundation. Since 2004, the "Hope Reading" bookmobile has been touring Taiwan, becoming a treasure trove of discovery and dreams for children.

Recalling the past 20 years of the project, Ling shared that she once visited 200 participating schools to understand their needs. One moment left a lasting impression: a principal who had moved from the city to a remote village tried to promote reading in his school, but the only books on the shelves were a few worn secondhand copies. When he encouraged students to exchange books, many brought in Buddhist scriptures. “Please send us books,” the principal said, “One book could help them step out into the world.”

In response, the foundation now purchases 20,000 quality books annually for schools and operates the Hope Reading bookmobile, spreading the joy of reading across Taiwan. They also offer training for reading teachers and principals and mobilize university and corporate volunteers to tell stories and organize science camps—further expanding literacy efforts in underserved areas.

Over 21 years, the foundation has donated 430,000 books, and the bookmobile has traveled over 250,000 kilometers—equivalent to circling Taiwan 236 times. Today, they are going global, introducing sustainable development goals (SDGs) to children through curated reading lists. “To build a truly sustainable world, even our youngest children must understand sustainability,” said Ling. The foundation delivers SDG-themed book selections via the bookmobile, aiming to help every child grow wings and soar—like the blue magpie.

From Earthquake Rubble to the “Library of Love”

“The Library of Love began with a group of selfless teachers who not only had an idea but took real action,” recalled Hsieh Chih Cheng, former Executive Director of the 921 Earthquake Relief Foundation. After the 1999 earthquake devastated central Taiwan, adults were busy rebuilding while children wandered, lost and aimless.

Chen Yi Cheng, a teacher at Hsu Kuang High School in Nantou County, set up a makeshift classroom and began a shared reading program with fellow teachers, starting with the picture book Guess How Much I Love You. This initiative helped children heal from trauma and evolved into the Taiwan Reading Promotion Center when book costs became a burden.

Moved by the teachers’ dedication, the 921 Foundation adopted their efforts, promoting classroom reading under the motto “Wisdom Sharing, Love and Sharing.” In April 2005, they launched the first “Library of Love” at Hushan Elementary School in Nantou.

As the foundation prepared to sunset, Hsieh asked Chen to approach MyungLi Corp. Chairman Liao Lu Li, a reading advocate. “The foundation may end,” said Hsieh, “but the spark of reading must live on.”

Chairman Liao went on to establish the Taiwan Reading Culture Foundation, rallying private companies and educators. With grassroots support from small and medium-sized enterprises, the Libraries of Love bloomed across the island.

Taiwan Reading Culture Foundation: Shared Reading Builds Thinking Skills

Chairman Liao Lu Li, an entrepreneur and avid reader, personally leads book clubs in his company. When Chen Yi Cheng wrote asking for help, he immediately donated NT$200,000 to support the teacher-led initiative.

To ensure the project’s sustainability, Liao founded the Taiwan Reading Culture Foundation. Starting with one library in the Nantou mountains, the foundation has since built 374 Libraries of Love, 43 digital libraries, and distributed over 20,000 book boxes for public borrowing.

“We focus on shared reading,” Liao explained. “Each box contains 30 copies of the same book, and teachers guide students in discussion.” The Libraries of Love are free lending platforms where students learn to listen, respect, tolerate, and share—values that go beyond literacy into moral education.

Executive Director Ho Hung Chun emphasized the critical role of Hsinchu Logistics in providing free transport, allowing the program to thrive for nearly 20 years. Today, 91% of elementary and 54% of junior high schools in Taiwan have used these libraries, with over 73 million total reading instances—a treasured educational asset.

In addition to shared reading, the foundation now offers programs combining music, picture books, author talks, and more. They’ve launched special libraries for audiobooks, new immigrants, Indigenous cultures, financial literacy, and the arts—expanding students’ learning horizons.

“We hope to discover children’s gifts and let them shine,” said Liao. The foundation’s next step is to open a “Shared Reading Center” in Caotun, Nantou, extending reading from schools to families, communities, and businesses, and promoting lifelong learning through a welcoming community hub.

Yu Shan Libraries: Spreading Love, One Book at a Time

Recognizing the lack of library resources and aging facilities in many rural schools, the Yu Shan Volunteer Foundation launched the Yu Shan Golden Seed Project in 2007. The goal: build libraries for elementary schools in remote or under-resourced areas across Taiwan.

“The first step to loving reading is creating a great reading environment,” the foundation stated. The first Yu Shan Library was built at Shuangxi Elementary School in Puzi, Chiayi County. Former principal Chen Mei Tzu wanted to promote reading, but the school’s only “library” consisted of rusty iron cabinets.

Yu Shan transformed the space with wooden flooring and vibrant colors to create a bright, cozy reading area. Volunteers also visited the school to host engaging activities and foster a love of reading. Since 2007, the foundation has built libraries in 190 schools—far exceeding its original target—and continues to spread the joy of reading. They firmly believe: “Embracing books gives children the power to change their future.”

Written by／Chiu Mu Jung

Photographer／Chiang Ming Yang

World Book Day (April 23) was originally designated to commemorate the deaths of literary giants William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes. Over time, it has evolved into a global celebration of reading, publishing, and copyright awareness.

Reading has always been closely connected to the pulse of contemporary society. In 2025, the National Library of Public Information (NLPI) launched a series of events under the theme “Read venture: Orienteering the Library,” inviting the public to join in a unique and immersive reading experience.

Reading Meets Orienteering: A Library’s Indoor Adventure

At first glance, the title 'Readventure: Orienteering the Library' might leave you wondering what the event is about. But for those familiar with outdoor sports, the word 'orienteering' offers a vital clue!

Originating in Sweden, orienteering is a sport that relies on maps, compasses, and navigational skills to travel from one point to another, often in outdoor settings like parks or forests. The NLPI, however, broke tradition by moving the event indoors, transforming the library into the terrain for an orienteering challenge.

“It all started by chance,” said Tsai Tsai Ching, a library outreach specialist who helped plan the activity. She explained that NLPI had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shei Pa National Park, and in 2024, they collaborated on an event where participants used maps to navigate a canvas printed with symbols. Volunteers guided them to practice map-reading by walking from one checkpoint to the next first encounter with orienteering for many, including Tsai Tsai Ching.

Unlike typical puzzle games, orienteering requires interpreting maps, strategizing optimal routes, and recognizing symbols—some maps even remove landmarks and names to increase difficulty. This sparked the idea: What if the library were treated like a mountain to explore through orienteering?

Navigating the Book Mountain: Embarking on a Library Quest

If the library is a mountain, then books are its forest—hiding clues for explorers to discover. In 'Readventure,' the primary challenge is to find specific picture books based on story clues.

Specially designed maps—filled with symbols and checkpoints—were created to help participants navigate. “Even the librarians might have trouble recognizing library zones on this map!” Tsai Tsai Ching laughed. Unlike standard library maps with restroom signs and area names, these looked more like treasure maps.

NLPI houses diverse picture book collections: the first-floor hosts children’s books, while the third-floor features global titles, senior-friendly books, and a dream-themed digital collection. Challenges were designed across various sections. Players had to interpret the map, determine their position, and find corresponding checkpoints to unlock clues. Other targets included special collections and library facilities like the outdoor book drop, public art, and AI librarian—encouraging deeper understanding of the library’s services.

Unlike outdoor orienteering, libraries are quiet zones, no running or loud talking are allowed. Some areas, like silent reading rooms, were marked as ‘forbidden zones’ and would deduct points if entered. While library navigation might seem easier than navigating a forest, completing challenges within a time limit through gestures and walking still presented a fun challenge.

Fun for All Ages: A Multilevel Adventure

To ensure all ages could join the fun, NLPI designed three difficulty levels: beginner, experience, and challenge modes. The beginner mode used a floor mat map (known as 9-grid orienteering) for families and seniors to learn the basics. The experience mode targeted returning players and adventurous participants, while the challenge mode was open for individuals or families to register.

In addition to the orienteering event, the library organized picture book talks and workshops. On April 5, a Children's Day special featured author Chen You Ling sharing her 2025 release *Once Upon a Time, the Emperor Had a Theme Park*, followed by a hands-on workshop.

On April 12, a session designed for seniors included a humorous and therapeutic picture book lecture by Lu Yi Fang, columnist of Encore Life, titled “Picture Book Party Time: A Heartwarming Read.” On April 20, author Wang Shu Fen hosted a creative workshop The Wonders of Picture Books, combining color, shapes, and imagination into hand-crafted picture books.

On April 26, picture book promoter Chu Ching Jung presented “The Best of French Picture Books: From Public to Personal Collections”, guiding readers through the charm of French illustration.

From April 1 to 30, participants who borrowed five picture books from the first-floor service desk received a special orienteering map. Those who completed the challenge could redeem a small gift, and completing a survey offered chances to win raffle prizes like airfare vouchers.

Connecting Through Picture Books: Closing the Distance

The main celebration for the 2025 World Book Day ‘Readventure’ was held on April 19. The day kicked off with an interactive story performance by the Gift Box Theater Group, drawing children closer to reading through engaging storytelling. In the afternoon, a professional orienteering competition was co-hosted with the Taichung Orienteering Promotion Association, open to families and seasoned explorers alike.

The event also featured a special talk by renowned picture book author Liu Hsu Kung, titled “Let Me Tell You a Story”. The ‘Picture Book Village Carnival’ ran concurrently, with booths by publishers, bookstores, a bicycle museum, and Shei Pa National Park, offering rich and diverse book-themed experiences.

Picture books, long considered only for children, offer meaning and insight to all readers regardless of age. In April 2025, make time for the pages of a picture book—and enjoy an off-road adventure within the world of stories.