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Reader Service

No.182

Digital Co-creation · Reading PLUS

  

數位共創．閱讀PLUS

 

As digital reading becomes an integral part of daily life, our perception of reading has become more liberated and diverse. Public libraries have long been developing digital resources and e-book platforms, ensuring that reading is no longer confined to paper pages or physical shelves. This allows readers to explore knowledge and broaden their horizons anytime, anywhere.

 

The rapid advancement of Generative AI is now ushering in a new wave of "smart transformation" for libraries. From robotic services and AI librarians to personalized book recommendations and cross-disciplinary co-creation, technology is no longer just a cold, functional tool. Instead, it has become the driving force that propels reading forward, leading people to cross the boundaries of imagination and embark on an even more expansive intellectual journey.

AI Illuminates Reading - A New Future for Libraries in the Smart Era

Written by／Zou Ming Yi

Photographer／Jiang Ming Yang

Photos provided by the NLPI、Zhou Zong Xin、Lin Yu Jie

 

At its core, reading has always been a delightful encounter between the mind and knowledge. A library is not merely a space for housing books, but a cradle that nurtures curiosity and imagination. Amidst the digital wave, technology is no longer a cold wall of data, but a warm light guiding people into the depths of knowledge. When technology and the humanities gently intertwine, the library transcends time and space, accompanying readers through the glow of smart innovation to discover ever-expanding landscapes of reading.

 

智慧時代的閱讀不再受限於紙頁與場域，而是一次全方位的感官體驗與知識重構。

 

In the public imagination, libraries are often viewed as quiet, solemn spaces for storing books, accompanied by widespread anxieties about digital evolution—fears that "AI will replace books," "digital reading accelerates knowledge fragmentation," or "the library's role will be hollowed out." Libraries in the smart era are far more dynamic than we might imagine! By redefining the essence of "smart services," reading is no longer confined to physical pages and specific spaces; instead, it becomes a comprehensive sensory experience and a dynamic reconstruction of knowledge. This transformation is not a cold, mechanical replacement, but a magnificent evolution centered on spatial reinvention, emotional resonance, and collaborative creativity.

 

Spatial Evolution - From a Treasure Trove of Knowledge to Smart Co-Creation

 

As a technical expert in the field of AI, Zhou Zong Xin, Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Tunghai University and founding director of the Master's Program in Digital Innovation, observes that the evolution of libraries has followed a dynamic trajectory of continual transformation: from their original role as book repositories, to lending and reading centers that made knowledge accessible to the public, and, with the arrival of the digital age, into public spaces that connect people with the world. Yet the rise of generative AI is now triggering an entirely new wave of change.

 

“When AI can instantly answer encyclopedic questions, libraries must rethink what makes their physical spaces irreplaceable,” Zhou Zong Xin argues. In his view, libraries of the future will transform into “co-creation spaces,” offering hands-on creative experiences that cannot easily be replicated in the home environment. For example, readers may collaborate with AI in real time on a large library screen to design an airplane model or work together on a digital canvas to create artwork that transcends the boundaries between the virtual and the physical. This kind of “physical co-creation” service will move libraries beyond being mere places for reading and into intelligent spaces for creative incubation, enabling readers to rebuild deep sensory connections with the library and marking a profound transformation in response to technological challenges.

 

忠信認為，當AI能瞬間回答百科全書式的提問，圖書館必須重新思考場域的不可替代性。2023年與國資圖合作打造全臺首位智慧館員「曉書」，為讀者提供嶄新的使用體驗。

 

Xiao Shu, the Smart Librarian - A Bridge Between Knowledge and Emotion

 

Among the most representative examples of transformation at the National Library of Public Information （NLPI） is the creation of its smart librarian, “Xiao Shu.” Looking back to the early wave of generative AI in 2023, NLPI Director Ma Xiang Ping had already begun in-depth discussions with Zhou Zong Xin. Although the library had already introduced robotic services at the time, their understanding of natural language remained limited, allowing only mechanical responses. Seeing new possibilities in generative AI technology, NLPI partnered with Professor Chou’s research team and incorporated the concept of a Digital Twin to develop “Xiao Shu,” Taiwan’s first smart librarian of its kind.

 

The challenge of this technological revolution lies not in data training, but in shaping the user experience. To eliminate the “hallucinations” commonly associated with AI and ensure the accuracy of information, the system automatically converts readers’ questions into code so that it can retrieve information precisely from the database, rather than allowing the model to generate responses entirely on its own. Interestingly, data shows that two-thirds of readers’ interactions with Xiao Shu consist of casual conversation, with some even developing a sense of emotional attachment. This demonstrates that when AI is given a distinctive persona and responds with empathy, it can effectively lower readers’ sense of distance from the library and build a more everyday, human-centered connection.

 

忠信認為，當AI能瞬間回答百科全書式的提問，圖書館必須重新思考場域的不可替代性。2023年與國資圖合作打造全臺首位智慧館員「曉書」，為讀者提供嶄新的使用體驗。

 

Human-AI Collaboration - Unlocking Librarians’ Expertise and Precision Services

 

In response to concerns that AI may replace human labor, Zhou Zong Xin takes a positive view grounded in the concept of “Human in the Loop.” He emphasizes that the role of AI is not to replace people, but to empower them: by allowing smart librarians to handle repetitive library inquiries, AI can significantly reduce the administrative burden on frontline librarians, enabling them to devote more time to higher-value research and strategic development, and allowing professional expertise to be fully applied where it matters most.

 

In addition, the development of smart librarians placed particular emphasis on distinguishing between different levels of service. For example, factual questions such as reading room regulations require accuracy in terms of whether the answer is correct, whereas book recommendations or lifestyle advice involve value-based judgments about whether the suggestion is appropriate or helpful. To address this, the development team engaged in repeated fine-tuning, gradually shaping Xiao Shu into a professional, approachable, and composed presence. This careful attention to detail reflects the humanistic commitment that remains indispensable in the smart era. When AI becomes a capable digital assistant, libraries can deliver services that are not only more efficient but also more personalized and precise, ensuring that every reader receives dedicated support tailored to their needs.

 

Digital Transformation - Reconstructing Logic Amid the Tide of Fragmentation

 

Lin Yu Jie, Chairperson of the Taiwan Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance Association and a long-time observer of developments in the cultural and creative sectors, has keenly identified the structural transformation of reading behavior. She points out that, with the rapid rise of AI-assisted audiobooks and summary apps, readers are increasingly accustomed to grasping the core ideas of a book during short commuting periods. This is not merely a technological revolution, but also a shift toward the fragmentation and efficiency-driven nature of reading habits. Yet she also offers a perspective that turns the issue on its head: although AI has intensified the fragmentation of reading, it has also unexpectedly become a form of salvation for this era.

 

“The fragmentation of knowledge brought about by the internet age once raised concerns about fractured thinking; yet AI’s powerful ability to organize logic can now piece those fragments back together, becoming a mirror that reflects and clarifies our reasoning,” Lin Yu Jie observes. She believes that in this age of information overload, AI can help readers build clear cognitive maps, prompting libraries to shift from being passive “keepers of knowledge” to becoming active “guides to knowledge.” Although AI is not one hundred percent accurate, she argues that the focus of human learning in the future will turn toward judging the purpose behind information. Readers may enter the library not always to seek a standard answer, but to find, within the frameworks organized by AI, the seeds of inspiration that spark the imagination.

 

林羽婕認為，未來的圖書館如同一個充滿變幻可能的「萬花筒」，在時光之流中持續創造新的人文樣貌。

 

Shared Resonance of Inspiration - The Artistic Core Beyond Cold Code

 

Although generative AI is already capable of producing fluent text and analyzing sophisticated techniques, Lin Yu Jie emphasizes that the spark of humanity and shared emotional resonance remain irreplaceable. Taking Vincent van Gogh’s works as an example, she notes that the inner one feels when standing before a painting is a kind of soulful resonance that AI cannot simulate through training data. While AI can offer rational suggestions, its responses are fundamentally based on logic rather than genuine encounters between living souls.

 

Therefore, she believes that the libraries of the future should actively embrace “tech art” and seek to transform traditional texts into immersive, multisensory experiences. Through digital technology, readers will no longer engage with stories through sight alone but will also be able to touch the world of the narrative through multiple senses and interactive design. Lin Yu Jie argues that this shift in medium is key to drawing the “screen-symbiotic generation” into physical spaces. “No matter how easy access to knowledge becomes, the emotional connection formed between people and works, and between people and spaces, remains the cornerstone of human civilization. What libraries safeguard is not only history, but also that human capacity for perceiving beauty and civilization—the very quality that keeps us from becoming machines.”

 

A Kaleidoscope of Time - Rediscovering the Social Warmth of Physical Spaces

 

In a highly digitalized future, the social value of libraries will not diminish; rather, it will continue to grow. Lin Yu Jie shares with a smile that the importance of spaces such as the newspaper reading area in a library lies not only in the newspapers themselves, but also in the way such spaces offer older adults a new place for social connection. In the simple moments of turning a page, standing up, or exchanging a glance or greeting with others, these physical spaces create a sense of belonging and warmth that digital life can hardly replace, providing essential emotional nourishment.

 

To Lin Yu Jie, the library of the future is like a “kaleidoscope” filled with ever-changing possibilities. Within this space, readers can connect with the distant histories of human civilization while also using technology to spark boundless imagination about the future. It is both a sanctuary of wisdom that preserves human knowledge and a warmly human station of emotional connection, continually creating new cultural expressions in the flow of time.

 

林羽婕認為，未來的圖書館如同一個充滿變幻可能的「萬花筒」，在時光之流中持續創造新的人文樣貌。

 

AI illuminates the future, giving knowledge a broader and more expansive form, while libraries, through transformation, integrate space, emotion, and creativity to reveal a new vision for the smart era. In doing so, they continue to light the way for every journey into the unknown, allowing the beauty of reading to flourish enduringly in the digital age.

 

Enhancing Reading with Technology - NLPI PLUS SPACE, a Digital Co-Creation Hub

Written by／Jhang Ming Rong

Photographer／Zhuang Zhen Feng、Jiang Ming Yang

 

What new sparks can emerge when digital reading meets generative AI? The National Library of Public Information has redesigned its second-floor digital space and, in 2026, launched the futuristic PLUS SPACE Digital Co-Creation Hub. Inviting readers to co-create with AI, the space uses everyday topics and current events as entry points, connecting them with a rich array of e-books and online resources. In an immersive and interactive environment, readers can explore technology, acquire new knowledge, and enjoy an entirely new reading experience.

 

「數位共創境」提供大眾與AI共創的機會，躍身圖書館新亮點。

 

As digital reading and generative AI become increasingly widespread, changes in the way people read have made the role of the National Library of Public Information （NLPI） more important than ever. NLPI offers one of Taiwan’s most comprehensive digital reading collections, with more than 490,000 e-books, along with electronic databases covering periodicals and newspapers, children’s picture books, language learning, the humanities and arts, natural sciences, audiovisual materials, and leisure content. Supporting online reading across multiple devices 24 hours a day, the library breaks through the limits of time and space to provide readers across the country with convenient and immediate access to reading services.

 

To encourage more people to use its digital collections and respond to the growing trend of cross-disciplinary reading, the NLPI has developed a new digital floor space, PLUS SPACE Digital Co-Creation Hub, centered on experiential services and a user-oriented approach. Integrating the two defining features of digital reading and AI co-creation, the space not only shows the library’s comprehensive digital reading services but also establishes a landmark environment that reflects the atmosphere of the intelligent age and aligns with NLPI’s forward-looking identity.

 

According to NLPI Director Ma Xiang Ping, the Digital Co-Creation Hub is built around four “I” s—Information, Inspiration, Imagination, and Innovation—as its core spirit. Through the exhibition space, the library hopes readers will gain practical information, collaborate with AI in co-creation, and, through interaction, experience moments of sudden inspiration that bring innovative thinking and imagination into everyday life.

 

馬湘萍期待讀者從展區獲得實用資訊，為日常生活注入創新思考與想像。

 

Empathetic Digital Reading - Bringing Knowledge Closer to Everyday Life

 

The Digital Co-Creation Hub adopts aurora black as its main color palette, creating an atmosphere that is both futuristic and composed, where readers can immerse themselves in a quiet yet distinctive reading experience. The space is divided into six zones—3D Time Machine, Empathetic Digital Reading, Let’s PLUS: Inspiration Puzzle, Mobile Reading Login, AI Co-Created Chapters: Mo-Hen, and Inspiration Window—all inspired by the big and small details of everyday life. Through these zones, visitors are guided toward cross-disciplinary reading and generative AI, bringing the library’s digital collections closer to readers.

 

As visitors make their way up the stairs to the second floor of the NLPI, they are greeted by the striking 3D Time Machine. With vivid large-screen audiovisual and 3D effects, the installation creates the sensation of being swept into a torrent of information, delivering the visual impact of technology while symbolizing the beginning of a journey into the world of digital reading. As visitors approach the screen, they activate the Book Destined for Your feature, which recommends e-books at random based on major historical events or notable figures associated with that day in history. By connecting knowledge to everyday points of reference, the feature sparks curiosity and gradually leads readers into the central exhibition area of the Digital Co-Creation Hub, where they can further explore NLPI’s rich digital collections.

 

「3D時光機」結合歷史上的今日大事或重要人物，隨機推薦電子書。

 

In the central exhibition area, Empathetic Digital Reading features three vertical screens designed to resonate with visitors through relatable everyday themes. Playful prompts such as Time to Relax with Travel and Entertainment, Level Up Your English, You’re Not Alone on the Parenting Journey, and Couch Potato with a Literary Soul invite users to select topics that interest them and connect directly to relevant digital collections. In this way, access to knowledge becomes more user-centered, more intuitive, and more engaging. Whether they are teachers and students, working professionals, families, older adults, or teenagers, visitors can easily find database content that suits their needs and supports lifelong learning.

 

In addition, this section features a rich selection of electronic journals and magazines. In response to current events, seasonal developments, and changing trends, it curates popular topics such as tariffs, barrier lakes, and reality shows into visually engaging content, helping readers quickly absorb the latest information and stay up to date with current issues.

 

「數位共感閱讀」以生活化議題引發共鳴，吸引民眾點選喜歡的主題連結至數位館藏。

 

Starting from Readers’ Needs - Enjoy Reading through Multiple Channels

 

On the other side of the space, Mobile Reading Login is another key feature of the Digital Co-Creation Hub. In the past, readers had to log in to their NLPI accounts before they could access and download e-books, and these login procedures often became an entry barrier for first-time users of digital reading. To lower that threshold, NLPI has directly integrated its E-book Service Platform into this zone, allowing readers to browse and try out the service freely on screen. Selected titles are even available for full-text reading on site, making it easy for visitors to experience the convenience and versatility of e-books and significantly increasing their willingness to borrow digital titles.

 

Ma Xiang Ping noted that, to better respond to readers’ needs, NLPI conducted a questionnaire survey of more than one hundred readers before planning the Digital Co-Creation Hub. The results showed that many frequent visitors to the library were still not very familiar with its digital resources, while some assumed that a high level of technological knowledge was necessary to read e-books.

 

“The Digital Co-Creation Hub is designed to break this perception,” she said. “Starting from the readers’ perspective, we use everyday themes to draw them in and lower the barriers to use, so that readers can personally experience the advantages of e-books and digital resources in the library and, in turn, become more willing to continue enriching themselves through different forms of reading in the future.”

 

「行動閱讀Login」讓讀者在螢幕上自由查找及體驗。

  

Co-Creating Text and Images with AI - Returning to the Essence of Reading through Technological Experience

 

As generative AI becomes increasingly widespread, technological tools are no longer just helpful assistants in people’s work and daily lives; they are also opening new experiential possibilities in the field of text-and-image creation. Through generative AI technology combined with sound and visual installations, Let’s PLUS: Inspiration Puzzle allows readers to interact with AI using simple spoken prompts and experience the appeal of new technology firsthand. By speaking a short phrase about their mood into the screen, readers can instantly generate a matching piece of short writing and an image. From realistic and lyrical to humorous and science-fiction styles, the possibilities are wide-ranging. Even those who are not skilled at writing or drawing can create a work simply through spoken input, turning inspiration into something tangible and experiencing the fun of co-creation through technology.

 

Hidden in the deepest part of the Digital Co-Creation Hub is a mysterious and captivating virtual literary creator named “Mo Hen”. In AI Co-Created Chapters: “Mo Hen”, he guides readers on a creative journey. After visitors give instructions to the AI, they unlock a series of creative stages, through which “Mo Hen” draws on NLPI’s rich digital resources—including the rare collection Lan Pu, e-books, and Photo News—to generate text, illustrations, and accompanying music that come together as a compelling story. This experience not only allows readers to discover the library’s collections through immersive interaction and appreciate the diverse possibilities of AI technology but also lets them scan a QR code to save their own personalized creation.

 

向「墨痕」下指令後，便能結合國資圖珍稀館藏《蘭譜》或電子書等數位資源生成文字與插圖。

 

The final stop, Inspiration Window, is set within a pure white space. In contrast to the calm, dark-toned style of the central exhibition area, this zone brings in natural light and greenery through large windows, creating a serene and graceful atmosphere. For readers who have just moved through a series of technology-driven experiences, it preserves a quiet moment of reflection and a return to the humanistic essence of reading. Pausing in this bright and elegantly designed space, readers can look out over the sunlit outdoor plaza or lightly tap the e-book readers placed on the tables, allowing the world of reading to unfold endlessly before them while inspiration settles and deepens in the stillness.

 

Through its rich and varied interactive experiences, the Digital Co-Creation Hub encourages readers to use technology to acquire knowledge and express themselves. More importantly, it transforms reading from a passive act into an active process of exploration and creation, offering a new interpretation of reading in the age of AI.

 

「靈感窗」位於純白空間內，讀者可使用桌上的電子書閱讀器，繼續讓閱讀的世界在眼前無限延伸。

 

When AI Meets Books - Reading Services Reach a New Level

 

The generative AI-powered Digital Co-Creation Hub offers the public opportunities to co-create with AI and has quickly become one of the library’s newest highlights. Looking back at NLPI’s adoption of AI, the library launched Taiwan’s first AI-powered virtual librarian, “Xiao Shu”, in 2023; introduced AI Picks You in 2024; and followed with AI Book Finder in 2025. Through these initiatives, NLPI has actively integrated artificial intelligence into library services, providing readers with more convenient, comprehensive, and personalized precision reading services.

 

AI Picks You is the first service of its kind among public libraries in Taiwan, featuring the use of the GPT-4o large language model. With readers’ consent, the AI analyzes their borrowing records from the past two years to understand their reading preferences and profile, then compares these patterns with the characteristics of the library’s holdings to generate a personalized reading description and a recommended book list. Much like hiring a professional consultant, the service delivers tailor-made recommendations for each reader. Since its launch, AI Picks You has recorded tens of thousands of searches annually and has been widely welcomed by readers.

 

With the assistance of AI, readers can be matched more precisely with books that interest them, saving time in the search process and increasing their chances of discovering lesser-known titles beyond bestseller lists or librarian recommendations. For today’s readers facing information overload, this provides a more efficient model for book selection. In addition, AI can identify latent interests from borrowing patterns; for example, if a reader frequently borrows books on cooking and travel, the system may recommend titles related to international cultures, opening new reading possibilities.

 

「AI為你選書」能根據讀者的借閱紀錄與閱讀興趣，量身打造個人化書單。

 

To promote the use of library collections, AI Picks You is also designed to display each book’s availability status, and readers can directly click to borrow e-books, significantly improving convenience and reading efficiency. The recommendation results continue to be updated as subsequent borrowing activity refines the model, making selections increasingly accurate over time. At the same time, a feedback mechanism allows readers to add their own text under reading preference features, helping the AI generate recommendations that better match their current needs.

 

A New Revolution in Search - “AI Book Finder” Breaks Through the Limits of Keyword Search

 

The newly launched AI Book Finder is transforming readers’ conventional impressions of library catalog searches with its powerful search capabilities. In the past, users usually had to enter an exact book title or the correct keywords to find what they wanted. For readers who had forgotten a title or were unsure of a book’s category, the search process often ended in frustration.

 

Liu Yen Kai, a counselor in NLPI’s Information Systems Division, explained that AI Book Finder uses AI-powered semantic understanding technology, allowing readers to search without entering precise keywords. Instead, they can simply describe the topic, situation, or reading need in natural language, and the system will draw on book titles, summaries, and related content descriptions to understand the meaning of the query and identify books that more closely match the reader’s needs.

 

He noted that traditional library retrieval largely depends on bibliographic data, subject headings, and keywords established through manual cataloging. For example, in the case of books discussing sarcopenia, if the bibliographic record does not include a search term such as “muscle loss,” which is closer to everyday reader language, users who search with “muscle loss” may fail to find the relevant book.

 

「AI找書」突破關鍵字搜尋的限制，只要輸入敘述性文字或情境描述，就能找到貼近需求的書籍。

 

With smart technology, AI Book Finder effectively solves this problem. Readers can search by entering a partial book title or even a descriptive sentence such as “I’m looking for books on stock investment planning for office workers” or “I want to travel to Hokkaido for a week in winter,” and the system will return corresponding recommendations. By using fuzzy concepts to overcome the limits of keyword search, it helps readers narrow their choices quickly and makes the book-finding process both easier and more enjoyable.

 

From consultation and book selection to book discovery and co-creation, NLPI continues to explore the many dimensions and possibilities of AI-powered services. With the official opening of the Digital Co-Creation Hub, the library remains committed to preserving the humanistic essence of reading while keeping pace with new technology, bringing a new definition to the connection between reading and innovation. Looking ahead, NLPI will continue to make good use of AI to provide diverse services and create even more varied and innovative reading experiences for its users.

 

2026 World Book Day : Just Read It！

Bringing Movement into Everyday Life - A Library Can Be a Sports Field, too

Written by／Huang Hong Xin

Photos provided by the NLPI

 

In celebration of World Book Day on April 23, the National Library of Public Information organizes a different themed program each year. This year, under the theme of “Reading × Sports,” the library has expanded the stage for reading promotion beyond the bookshelves and into the world of sports, creating a two-month reading-and-fitness carnival that connects spaces across the entire library. Whether they are library patrons, sports enthusiasts, or families with children, visitors can all experience the joy and beauty of reading through this vibrant event.

 

國資圖於各樓層設置多項運動任務，其中足球台是孩童最喜愛的項目之一。

 

2026 is set to be a landmark year for international sports, with the FIFA World Cup, the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, the Asian Games, and the World Baseball Classic all taking place in succession, fueling an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm for sports. Sensing this momentum, the National Library of Public Information（NLPI）has launched Just Read It, a campaign that brings sports into everyday life while promoting reading and encouraging people to rediscover its essence.

 

In fact, reading and sports share a similar nature: both are driven by personal interest, and both require sustained commitment to yield results over time. “Reading is exercise for the mind, nurturing inner strength in literacy, while sports are the practice of the body, providing outward momentum,” said Tsai Tsai Ching, a librarian in the Guidance and Promotion Division at NLPI. By bringing the two together, the library hopes readers can develop both stillness and movement, cultivate themselves inwardly and outwardly, and ultimately find their own joy in reading.

 

Take on the “Read-and-Move Missions”- When Games Become a Gateway to Reading

 

“Games are one of the most effective bridges connecting the public with reading. Through game-based, mission-oriented design, readers can become familiar with the NLPI’s collections and distinctive services, while also increasing their motivation and interest in reading,” said Tsai Tsai Ching. She explained that the “Read-and-Move Missions” are themed around sports, with the National Library of Public Information imagined as a sports arena, where different athletic events are spread across its various floors. By borrowing books in exchange for a challenge card, readers can take on the following six sporting events.

 

On the first floor, “Ace Pitcher” invites participants to throw soft baseballs at a nine-square target, echoing the excitement surrounding the World Baseball Classic. On the third floor, “Hole in One” at the Silver Picture Book Garden offers a mini-golf putting experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the fun of golf in a lush, green setting. Outdoors, “Jump Master” features height markers at 50, 100, and 150 centimeters, giving visitors a chance to test their high-jump skills. “Kick to Victory,” presented in the form of table football, taps into the fever of the FIFA World Cup, while “Muscle Warrior” provides strength-training experiences with dumbbells and resistance bands. There is also a 3D rock-climbing scene inspired by the trending topic of free climbing “101,” creating a visually striking climbing effect that is both fun and highly topical.

 

國資圖於各樓層設置多項運動任務，其中足球台是孩童最喜愛的項目之一。

 

On the day of the opening ceremony, April 18, the Eastern Broadcasting YOYO Family will also appear at the National Library of Public Information to kick off the event with their signature singing-and-dancing performance. Their familiar melodies and energetic choreography will instantly transform the library into a joyful paradise for families and children.

 

The venue will also feature booths hosted by publishers, civic sports centers, reading promoters, and other related organizations, offering a variety of activities such as fitness assessments and free book giveaways. In addition, the library has prepared a special surprise with the launch of the DIDIM smart fitness gaming experience, allowing visitors to get moving while enjoying reading. In the afternoon, participants are invited to bring their own yoga mats and join a session of lawn yoga and outdoor stretching, coming together to create a rich and lively reading-and-sports carnival.

 

「2026世界閱讀日」主場活動除了闖關任務，同時邀請出版社、國民運動中心、閱讀推書人等單位共同設攤。

 

In 2026, a special new feature titled “Baseball Classroom” will combine reading with baseball knowledge. The program integrates reading lectures with interactive competitions, and the NLPI will announce a recommended reading list in advance so that participants can prepare by reading ahead.

 

On the day of the event, May 30, participants may use their mobile phones or tablets to join a live online quiz competition. Questions will cover basic baseball knowledge as well as extended content from the recommended reading list. The top three participants in the final competition will receive special prizes.

 

Through this event design, the “Reading Home Run” program not only gains a new interactive element but also allows the public to reconnect with the spirit and original purpose of the initiative. When knowledge and sports come together, participants are no longer simply “borrowing books to get tickets”; instead, they come to understand baseball culture through reading and, in turn, develop a deeper love for reading.

 

The 2026 Reading Home Run ticket redemption campaign will run from June 2 to July 12. During the campaign period, readers may redeem one weekday CTBC Brothers home game ticket voucher by either completing the task of borrowing 10 books or using 10 points through the Reading Passbook system. In this way, every act of reading becomes the motivation to cheer in the ballpark.

 

「閱讀全壘打」活動推出結合閱讀與棒球知識的「棒球小學堂」，規劃主題書展供民眾借閱。

 

Cross-Sector Collaboration - Mutual Benefits for Libraries and Civic Sports Centers

 

For this year’s program, the NLPI has launched a cross-sector collaboration with the Taichung City Sports Bureau, creating a new model that brings together sports and reading promotion. Centered on the idea of audience exchange, the initiative encourages library readers to step into civic sports centers while also drawing sports enthusiasts into the library.

 

The National and Children’s Sports Centers under the Sports Bureau play a key role in this collaboration, with the nearby Changchun National and Children’s Sports Center serving as the main hub for deeper partnership activities.

 

The first step is to bring reading resources into civic sports centers. The National Library of Public Information has set up themed Reading Refill Stations—featuring posters and promotional materials—at sports centers across Taichung, with a focus on digital reading resources and the concept of “recharging your reading energy after exercise.” By simply scanning a QR code, visitors can access the library’s digital resources free of charge.

 

Some sports centers have also placed books provided by the library on site, encouraging people to enjoy light reading before or after exercise, or during breaks. Just as a refreshment station helps athletes restore their physical energy, a Reading Refill Station is designed to nourish the mind.

 

國資圖與國民運動中心合作，開設多元運動體驗課程。

 

In addition, the National Library of Public Information has invited professional coaches from the Changchun National and Children’s Sports Center to lead a range of sports experience classes at the library for different age groups. The program includes activities such as movement classes for young children, fitness sessions for older adults, yoga-based rhythm training, and core strength workouts. Readers who complete the book-borrowing task can join these sports experience classes free of charge. If they become interested in a particular program, they may also go on to register for additional courses at the sports center itself.

 

Through this collaborative model, the library becomes a bridge connecting reading communities and sports communities, while the civic sports center also provides free trial vouchers to participating readers, creating a two-way exchange of resources that benefits both sides. The NLPI hopes to gradually deepen its partnerships with civic sports centers across Taichung in the future, so that the integration of reading and exercise can become part of the city’s culture and everyday life.

 

Making Reading an Everyday Workout

 

Reading is not merely a static act of sitting in a chair and turning pages. It can be a baseball thrown across the field, a golf ball put into the hole, or a book picked up at a refill station after exercise. For World Book Day 2026, perhaps it is time to set aside the stereotype that reading is serious and exercise is exhausting. Take a challenge card and make your way through every floor of the NLPI putting, jumping highland when you get tired, curling up with a book and read. Between movement and stillness, there is no real boundary.

 

Reading and exercise can be as natural as breathing. Try making reading the most everyday form of “exercise”!

 

From Reading to Creating - Gently Painting a Literary Landscape for Older Adults Through Picture Books

Written by／Funny Li

Photographer／Jiang Ming Yang

 

In 2025, Taiwan officially became a “super-aged society,” with adults aged 65 and above making up more than 20 percent of the population—meaning that one in every five people is now a senior. In this context, public libraries face a new shared challenge: how to encourage older adults to step into libraries and rediscover the pleasures of reading at different stages of life. At the same time, this shift has opened rich new possibilities for lifelong learning.

 

As a leading force in reading promotion in Taiwan, the National Library of Public Information（NLPI）established a “Senior Learning Resource Area” as early as the opening of its new building in 2012. Referencing Taiwan Senior Learning, edited by Wei Hui Juan, Director of the Center for Adult and Continuing Education at National Chung Cheng University, the library created a themed self-directed learning book section based on topics related to the active aging process. In recent years, NLPI has further intensified its efforts to develop services centered on adults aged 55 and above, gradually building a friendly and multifaceted lifelong learning environment from both the hardware and software sides.

 

「樂齡繪本創作工作坊」透過一系列課程帶領長輩從文字、色彩到手作，將回憶中的小故事，轉化為屬於自己的繪本作品。

 

Age-Friendly Design in Response to Senior Needs

 

Upon arriving at the Senior Learning Resource Area on the third floor of the NLPI, one can clearly sense this thoughtful design: the height of the bookshelves has been deliberately adjusted, with no books placed on the bottom shelf so that bending down is no longer necessary. The seating has also been carefully selected, with armrests and a level of firmness that makes standing up much easier. In addition, the library has purchased reading aids suitable for older adults, including magnifying glasses, large-format newspaper reading machines, audiobooks, and large-print books.

 

In addition to the meticulous spatial planning, the NLPI officially established the Silver Academy in 2024, integrating what had previously been scattered courses into a more comprehensive senior learning system built around three core themes: aesthetics, technology, and health. Tsai Chia Hsun, a librarian in NLPI’s Multicultural Services Division, noted that the curriculum spans psychological counseling, physical exercise, everyday aesthetics, smartphone use, and AI applications, while also addressing spiritual and life-related issues in response to older adults’ need to re-engage themselves and their lives after retirement.

 

國資圖以美感、科技、健康3大主軸，打造完整的樂齡學習系統。

 

“The most popular courses are, of course, the smartphone classes! So many people sign up—you can really feel the sense of urgency among older adults,” Tsai said with a smile. She added that many older adults often say their children are too busy to teach them, so learning on their own feels more reassuring. NLPI places special emphasis on information and media literacy: when older adults learn how to use smartphones and better understand the online world, they are better equipped to identify scam messages, strengthen relevant knowledge, and enhance their own sense of security in society. “We do not want older adults to become digital outsiders.” By transforming public resources into digital services suitable for older users, libraries can help ensure that no one is left behind by the times.

 

Reading and Creating - Activating the Power of Picture Books for Older Adults

 

To enrich the reading lives of older adults, the NLPI created the Silver Picture Book Garden in 2024 and, in 2025, began training volunteers to lead picture-book reading sessions. “Picture books are not only for children. Though their texts are brief, they hold abundant imagination and emotion, which often resonate deeply with older readers,” Tsai Chia Hsun explained. She noted that titles such as Barbara Cooney’s Emma and Miss Rumpus have inspired rich discussion, awakened many memories, and prompted older adults to share stories from their own lives.

 

Drawn in by the charm of picture books, many older adults have gradually fallen in love with the library. In March 2026, the NLPI further launched a Senior Picture Book Creation Workshop, inviting picture-book storyteller Hsu Chiao Ling, picture-book author Chang Man Chi, art companion practitioner Chang Hui Hsin, and senior-learning instructor Chang Su Chen to guide older adults through a series of classes. Through words, colors, and hands-on creation, the workshop led participants step by step in transforming the small stories held in their memories into picture-book works of their own.

 

「銀力繪本花園」空間明亮舒適，以多元主題繪本豐富樂齡者的閱讀生活。　　「銀力繪本花園」空間明亮舒適，以多元主題繪本豐富樂齡者的閱讀生活。

 

“We hope that older adults will not merely be listeners to stories, but will also become storytellers and creators of stories,” Tsai Chia Hsun said. She added that in the future, this creative model could be integrated with the library’s “Dream Picture Book Database” and published in the form of e-books, making the works accessible to more readers and allowing personal life stories to become part of the public memory.

 

As the Silver Academy has gradually built up a stable learner community, its LINE group has grown from more than 300 members to over 500, with the number of followers and participants continuing to rise far beyond expectations. Page after page and course after course, the NLPI is opening another path of reading and creation for the senior generation, turning lifelong learning from a slogan into a gentle companionship infused with the fragrance of books.

 

Special Exhibition at NLPI - "A Knock at the Door from Our Little Mouse Friends: Super Agents Decoding the Disease Code"

Written by／Chung Pi Fang

Photographer／Jiang Ming Yang

 

In an era of rapid advances in medical technology, the role of laboratory animals is quietly changing. From mice to chips, the National Center for Biomodels（NCB）leads readers through the front lines of disease validation through this exhibition, showing how science is redefining the meaning of a “surrogate” while balancing ethics and precision.

 

從牆面的圖文、影像說明，到模型與互動裝置，民眾可一窺國家生物模式中心近年來的研究成果。

 

As visitors step into the exhibition area on the second floor of the National Library of Public Information, the first thing they encounter is a familiar little creature, newly cast in an unexpected role: the mouse. Serving as the starting point of this exhibition, it leads visitors into a story about disease research, medical safety, and technological transformation.

 

The exhibition, "A Knock at the Door from Our Little Mouse Friends: Super Agents Decoding the Disease Code", is organized by the National Center for Biomodels（NCB）, formerly known as the National Laboratory Animal Center（NLAC）, which has now officially adopted its new name. Through wall texts, visual displays, videos, models in display cases, and interactive installations, visitors can gain insight into the center’s recent shift in research focus and its evolving role within today’s healthcare system.

 

From the National Laboratory Animal Center to the National Center for Biomodels

 

More than 30 years ago, the center was established with a clear mission: to build a stable and reliable supply of laboratory animal resources and to safeguard the development of new drugs and medical technologies. For a long time, animals served as humanity’s most important stand-ins.

 

However, with advances in biomedical technology and data science, validation is no longer a one-way path. Artificial intelligence can now be used to screen high-risk compounds in advance, while cells and micro physiological systems are able to simulate certain organ functions outside the body. Combined with traditional animal models, these approaches guide biomedical research toward greater precision and closer approximation to human biology.

 

According to Chin Hsien Ching, Director of the NCB, the center’s core mission has shifted from “providing animals” to “building models.” Its goal is to establish a diverse and reliable validation system that can better safeguard human safety and the effectiveness of medical care.

 

從牆面的圖文、影像說明，到模型與互動裝置，民眾可一窺國家生物模式中心近年來的研究成果。

 

Understanding the Practice of Research Ethics through the 4R Principles

 

Seen in this broader context of transformation, the 4R Principles emerge as a key concept repeated throughout the exhibition. The “4Rs” refer to Replacement, Reduction, Refinement, and Responsibility, which together represent the core values of contemporary laboratory animal science and biomodel research. Through the different exhibition sections, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how these principles are put into practice.

 

The exhibition seeks to bridge the boundary between tradition and the future. Beginning with the diversity of laboratory animal species and the enrichment of their living environments, it reflects a fundamental concern for life. It then uses a step-like visual structure to guide visitors through the process of experimental design, prompting reflection on how to strike a balance between non-animal training methods and advanced technologies to reduce unnecessary sacrifice.

 

「4R原則」是當代實驗動物科學與生物模式研究的核心價值。

 

Finally, visitors are brought to the forefront of biomodel innovation, where they can witness the latest applications of organ-on-a-chip technology. Together, these displays convey a clear message: the future of animal experimentation lies in using animals with greater precision. At the same time, within a framework where multiple models work side by side, animal experimentation is no longer the only option, but rather an important part of a collaborative system that also includes chips, cells, and AI-driven data.

 

In addition, there is an interactive section that is especially popular with children. Visitors can listen to different guinea pig vocalizations on site and learn how researchers use technology to interpret animals’ emotions and physical conditions. This design is not intended simply for entertainment. “When we are able to detect signs of discomfort in animals at an earlier stage, we can promptly adjust their care and experimental conditions, making research both more humane and more reliable,” said Chin Hsien-Ching, Director of the NCB.

 

民眾可以在展場聆聽天竺鼠不同的聲音範例。

 

Diverse Research Models - Redefining the Future of Medical Validation

 

Organ-on-a-chip technology is another major focus of the exhibition. Through physical models and animated displays, these miniature systems—once confined to the laboratory—are translated into a visual language that the public can readily understand. Chin Hsien-Ching offers an apt metaphor: “An organ-on-a-chip is like taking a slice from a whole, preserving its structure and interactions without attempting to recreate the entire organism.”

 

Looking back at the little “mouse” introduced at the beginning of the exhibition, visitors may realize that what it represents has quietly changed. It is no longer merely an object of study, but a member of a broader biomodel system, working alongside chips, cells, and AI to help researchers understand how diseases develop and to improve the success rate of drug development.

 

Through its spatial arrangement, visitor flow, and interactive design, the exhibition helps the public understand how contemporary science moves forward by balancing ethics with precision. When there is no longer only one kind of stand-in, and when methods of validation continue to evolve, the future of medicine is also being redefined.

 

「器官晶片」透過實體模型與動畫輔助，轉化為大眾能理解的視覺語言。

 

 

A Knock at the Door from Our Little Mouse Friends: Super Agents Decoding the Disease Code

 

● Exhibition Dates: March 10, 2026 (Tue) to July 2, 2026 (Thu)
● Venue: Mini Exhibition Area, 2nd Floor, National Library of Public Information (Main Library)

 
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