The “Reading Taichung Team”(「閱讀台中隊」) gathered today(19) at the new Taichung Green Museumbrary (綠美圖) to mark the beginning of a new era for reading in the city. Hosted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Taichung City Government, the event—titled “Reading the Main Library: Citizens Shelving Books” (「閱讀總圖，市民上架」)—invited more than 500 citizens to join Mayor Lu(盧市長) in symbolically passing and shelving books, signifying the people of Taichung welcoming the birth of their new world-class library.

Mayor Lu expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participants, noting that the Taichung Green Museumbrary (綠美圖) , designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize laureates Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa(普立茲克建築獎得主、日本知名建築師妹島和世與西澤立衛), represents not only the finest library in Taiwan but also a new global cultural landmark. “Thank you for joining us in welcoming this world-class library that belongs to the people of Taichung,” she said.

A Vision 20 Years in the Making

Scheduled to officially open on December 13, the Green Museumbrary has been a dream two decades in the making. The complex consists of eight interconnected buildings—four housing the Main Library of Taichung Public Library, three for the Taichung Museum of Art , and one administrative building. Its collection includes print, digital, picture, and rare books, symbolizing the city’s ongoing accumulation of knowledge and culture.

Mayor Lu personally took part in the book-passing relay, joining citizens to complete the shelving ceremony. To commemorate the library’s opening, she announced two exclusive keepsakes: a “Flower Chair”(「花椅」) keychain designed by Sejima and Nishizawa, and 80,000 limited-edition “Bugcat Capoo” library cards(「貓貓蟲咖波」閱讀證)—with over 50,000 applications already received. She encouraged the public to apply for these special mementos celebrating the library’s grand debut. 

A Collective Celebration of Reading

Nearly 1,000 participants—including families, volunteers, and students—joined today’s activity, creating a heartwarming scene of community collaboration. According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, 736 family groups and 592 individuals registered online for the event, with 100 family teams and 100 individuals selected by computer draw to form the “Reading Taichung Team.” Four schools from the Taichung Reading Points Program were also invited to participate.

Participants relayed books hand-to-hand, sending the fragrance of reading and good wishes into the new library while enjoying a sneak preview of the children’s reading area. Parents shared that their children learned teamwork and appreciation through the experience, and both children and adults said they felt honored and excited to help shelve the very first books.

A New Era of Knowledge and Aesthetics

The Cultural Affairs Bureau highlighted that the Green Museumbrary represents Taiwan’s first integrated library-and-art-museum complex, ushering in a new era of “knowledge and aesthetics in harmony.” The city continues to promote reading and cultural development by upgrading older facilities and constructing new libraries across districts—including the Xidong Library (Beitun), Xu Liang-Yu Library (Dongshi), Lobsang Library (Nantun), and Children’s Forest Library (Xitun)—making reading an integral part of daily urban life. 

To sustain this effort, the city has allocated an annual book-purchase budget of NT$100 million for four consecutive years, implementing a “New Books Every Month” initiative that ensures fresh titles for readers year-round. In 2024, Taichung’s total borrowing volume exceeded 20.24 million items, setting a new record and reaffirming its reputation as a “City of Happy Reading.”

Pre-Opening and Public Access

The Taichung Public Library announced that the Main Library will begin trial operations from October 28 to November 16, with early access to the children’s and youth reading areas. Citizens are invited to explore this world-class reading landmark where nature, art, and knowledge converge. For details about events and the grand opening,  visit the official website at https://gov.tw/tiW.

Celebrating Together

The event featured lively appearances by the Formosan Clouded Leopard Family and popular character Bugcat Capoo, creating a joyful atmosphere filled with laughter and the scent of books. Distinguished guests in attendance included Mayor Lu(市長盧秀燕), Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-Chen(立法院副院長江啟臣), Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chen Chia-Chun(文化局長陳佳君), Deputy Cultural Affairs Director Shih Chun-Fu(文化局副局長施純福), Public Works Director Chen Tsung-Jen, and Taichung Public Library Director Tseng Hui-Chun(中市圖館長曾惠君), among others—all joining to celebrate this milestone in Taichung’s cultural history.