The first "staff-less" library located at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station opened yesterday evening, offering about 15,000 books targeted at teenagers and MRT commuters.
The "Ximen Open Book Smart Library" at the Ximen MRT station is the nation's second staff-less library; the Taipei Public Library had set up a pilot library in Neihu's Carrefour store in July last year.
The staff-less computer-operated library employs a radio frequency identification (RFID) system and a self check-in and check-outsystem, allowing residents to enter the library by inserting a RFID library card, scan the book and take a receipt from the computer, and return the book by dropping it off in a library return box.
Taipei Public Library chief Tseng Shu-hsian (曾淑賢) said the first staff-less library had attracted 9,000 library card applications and over 100,000 residents since it started operating. The success of the first staff-less library prompted the library to open a second one.
"We chose an MRT station as it's a commercial area and convenient [for readers]," she said.
Tseng said that the Ximen area was a popular destination for teenagers. Setting up a library in the Ximen MRT station could help promote reading among teenagers, a generation that reads the least.
"We included books for this generation, including magazines, comics, Internet literature and sports and travel books," she said.
Books that cater to a wider audience, such as literature, investment, religion and management, can also be found in the library.
Although the library has no staff members, Tseng said the RFID system provided faster and more convenient service. The technology also has an enhanced security system and has reduced theft, as users' information is kept in the system.
The library is open from 6am to 12pm. Interested readers can apply for a library card between 2pm and 7pm until July 13. Application forms and processing are also available at the Taipei Public Library's main library.
The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a southwestern extension of the Sanying MRT Line from New Taipei to Bade District (八德) in Taoyuan, with a goal of starting construction by late 2026. The 4.03-kilometer extension, featuring three new stations, will run from the current terminus at Yingtao Fude Station (LB12) in New Taipei City to Dannan Station (LB14), where it will connect with Taoyuan’s Green Line, New Taipei City Metro Corp said in a statement. This extension will follow the completion of core Sanying Line, a 14.29-kilometer medium-capacity system linking Tucheng (土城), Sansia (三峽)
CARGO LOSS: About 50 containers at the stern of the ‘Ever Lunar’ cargo ship went overboard, prompting the temporary closure of the port and disrupting operations Evergreen Marine Corp, Taiwan’s largest container shipper, yesterday said that all crew members aboard the Ever Lunar (長月) were safe after dozens of containers fell overboard off the coast of Peru the previous day. The incident occurred at 9:40am on Friday as the Ever Lunar was anchored and waiting to enter the Port of Callao when it suddenly experienced severe rolling, Evergreen said in a statement. The rolling, which caused the containers to fall, might have been caused by factors including a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Russia, poor winter sea conditions in South America or a sudden influx of waves,
The Ministry of Culture yesterday officially launched the “We TAIWAN” cultural program on Osaka’s Nakanoshima sandbank, with the program’s mascot receiving overwhelming popularity. The cultural program, which runs from Aug. 2 to 20, was designed to partner with and capitalize on the 2025 World Expo that is being held in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to Oct. 13, the ministry said. On the first day of the cultural program, its mascot, a green creature named “a-We,” proved to be extremely popular, as its merch was immediately in high demand. Long lines formed yesterday for the opening
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
RSS