TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan disclosed on Monday (Nov. 20) that he oversaw the planning of 23 libraries, with 15 completed at a total cost of NT＄8 billion during his tenure as Taoyuan mayor.
This revelation came as Taiwan prepares to host the annual Taiwan Reading Festival on Dec. 2 and 3, with the announcement made during a press conference at the National Central Library.
Education Ministry Political Deputy Minister Lin Ming-yu, addressing local media, presented a report showcasing a yearly increase in library visits, library card applications, and total book borrowings by Taiwanese residents.
In 2022, library users in Taiwan borrowed an impressive total of 93.11 million books, Lin said.
Celebrating its 11th year, the Taiwan Reading Festival has become a key platform for promoting Taiwan's cultural literacy. The festival gained international recognition in 2020 when it received the Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects by the American Library Association (ALA).
The upcoming festival is expected to further highlight Taiwan's rich literary and cultural heritage and to sustain the growing public interest in reading-related activities.