The public and private sectors are collaborating to establish a new reading center in Taichung! Lobsang Corporation has donated NT$100 million to the Taichung City Government to help build the Lobsang Library on a cultural and educational site (Wenxiao 65) in Nantun District. This will be the third public library in Nantun once completed. Today (3rd), Mayor Lu Hsiu-Yen attended the donation ceremony and signed an agreement with Chairman Wang Shih-Hsu of the Lobsang Corporation. Mayor Lu expressed her appreciation to Chairman Wang for this generous contribution to the community. Through joint efforts, Taichung's most beautiful ecological landscape library will be established, making Taichung a city of happiness with soft and hard powers.
“Reading ability is city competitiveness, and Taichung leads the country in this regard!” Mayor Lu highlighted her honor in participating in the donation ceremony on behalf of the city government and 2.85 million Taichung citizens, emphasizing the goal of boosting the city's soft power through reading. From 2022 to 2024, Taichung has topped both the individual and group categories of the Reading Rock Award, organized by the Ministry of Education, for three consecutive years, demonstrating Taichung’s reading prowess. In 2023, each citizen borrowed an average of 6.81 books, with an average reading budget of NT$361.29 per person. The city government will continue establishing libraries across different regions to ensure equitable distribution of reading resources and further enhance the city's reading prowess. Mayor Lu also expressed gratitude to successful businesses for their social contributions, which help foster a longstanding, vibrant reading culture in Taichung.
Mayor Lu highlighted her administration's focus on promoting reading citywide since she took office. Apart from allocating NT$100 million annually for book purchases over the last three years, additional funding has been allocated each year along with subsidies from the central government to optimize older libraries, improving the quality of reading environments for citizens. The Taichung Green Museumbrary, set to open in 2025, promises to offer a world-class reading experience. Moreover, the city government is partnering with private entities to build the Xi Dong Library in Beitun District and the Hsu Liang-Yu Library in Dongshi District. Future plans include the construction of the most stunning Lobsang Library in Nantun District, providing people of all ages with a facility that supports ecological education and reading services.
“Knowledge is power,” remarked Vice President of the Legislative Yuan, Chiang Chi-Chen, expressing thanks to Mayor Lu for her efforts in promoting reading and Chairman Wang's generous support. Taichung's initiative to construct libraries through donations not only encourages reading habits but also offers versatile facilities for local community events and parent-child education. It is hoped that Chairman Wang's commitment to public service will endure, making libraries a distinctive feature of Taichung.
Director Chen Chia-Chun of the Cultural Affairs Bureau highlighted Lobsang Corporation's longstanding support for Taichung's cultural and artistic development. In addition to donating thousands of books to the Taichung Public Library, Lobsang Corporation operates the independent bookstore Lobsang Books, where locals can borrow books, supported by logistics services from the Taichung Public Library for book returns. The Lobsang Library in Nantun District focuses on environmental care and sustainability, integrating into its surroundings with water features, green spaces, and forests to become a facility with a high greening rate and ecological landscape design.
Director Chen noted that Ease International Co., Ltd. has been entrusted with the planning and design of the Lobsang Library, and Lee Ming Construction Co., Ltd. will manage the construction. The library project aims to establish an educational environment closely integrated with nearby schools, cultural facilities, and diverse artistic and cultural events. It will offer specialized reading spaces and services catering to different demographics, enriching Taichung's cultural and artistic heritage.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that Chairman Wang Shih-Hsu of Lobsang Corporation has been committed to promoting reading. In 2013, he founded the independent bookstore Lobsang Books in Xiwu Village, Wuri District, aiming to ignite children's dreams through reading and establishing a pivotal reading center in the community. Lobsang Books has received prestigious accolades, including the 2022 Taiwan Excellence Award and the 2023 Global Views ESG Corporate Sustainability Award. Today, Chairman Wang continues his dedication to promoting reading by establishing a library, fulfilling his corporate social responsibility. This initiative actively engages with the community to promote the joys of reading, positioning Lobsang Corporation as a driving force for social progress.
The Taichung Public Library noted that Nantun District is expansive, with a population surpassing 180,000 and steadily increasing. Currently, libraries like the Nantun Branch and the Lee Ko-Yung Memorial Library Branch are located in the northern part of Nantun District. To meet the growing demand for reading services among residents in the southern area, the Lobsang Library will be constructed at the junction of Wenxin South 7th Road and Yongchun East 1st Road in Nantun District. It will feature dedicated areas for children's reading, youth reading, self-service book reservation, and periodical reading. Expected to be completed by late 2026, this library aims to provide even more comprehensive reading resources for residents in Nantun District.