Digital books, used books, and mobile library buses offer more reading options
New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu today at city administration conference expressed his ambition to make New Taipei City a reading community. In essence, he wants to increase the book-reading rate of citizens through creating e-libraries, collecting used books, and dispatching mobile library buses.
Commissioner Lin of Cultural Affairs Department at the conference presented a special report on the topic “New libraries, New Reading”. Commenting on the book reserve of libraries in New Taipei City, Mayor Chu suggested that libraries can cooperate with schools and other public facilities to collect used books. Such method can not only increase library book reserve but also help promote book reuse.
In addition, Mayor Chu ordered the libraries to pace up on creating their e-book reserve to increase book circulation. He also stressed the importance of having an “e-library” to facilitate book circulation. With an “e-library”, citizens can checkout their books online and pick them up at either nearby branch libraries or convenient stores, though the latter pickup method requires a mailing charge.
Finally, Mayor Chu proposed integrating libraries with MRT stations to make it easy for commuters to borrow and return books. For areas where the MRT can’t reach, e.g. many bus transit stations, he suggested using the mobile library buses for book borrowing and return. These measures can offer commuters an easy way to land their hands on books and effectively increase book circulation.