National Taiwan Library (NTL)

Overview

The National Taiwan Library (NTL; Chinese: 國立臺灣圖書館) is the oldest public library in Taiwan, located in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City. Founded in 1914 during the Japanese colonial era, it holds a large collection of documents related to the history, culture, politics, and geography of Taiwan, and specializes in Taiwan Studies as well as services for the visually impaired.

History and Founding

The NTL traces its origins to the Library of the Governor-General of Taiwan, established on April 13, 1914, by Order 62 of Governor Sakuma Samata. A temporary office was set up in November 1914, and the library officially opened to the public on August 9, 1915. The library's first permanent home on Bo'ai Road in Taipei was destroyed in Allied bombing during World War II. Following Japan's defeat, the library was renamed the Taiwan Provincial Library and underwent several further name changes, serving as the Taiwan Province Taipei Library after 1947 and the National Central Library Taiwan Branch after July 1, 1973.

In 1998, the NTL was formally re-established under its present name as an independent institution, with a purpose-built facility in Zhonghe. The library holds a particular focus on Taiwan Studies research, providing resources for scholars interested in Taiwan's history, culture, and society.

Collections and Holdings

The NTL holds approximately 210,000 documents from the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945), the largest such collection at any public library in Taiwan. The broader collection covers Taiwan's history, culture, politics, and geography. The library also offers services for the visually impaired, including approximately 12,000 Braille books and assistive information technology resources. The NTL's aim is to serve as a dedicated research center for Taiwan Studies, providing both traditional written materials and digital information resources.

Access and Usage

The NTL is open to the general public and researchers. Online catalogue access and digital resources are available through the library's website. The library is located in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, near Yongan Market station on the Taipei Metro.