TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei City Government said Wednesday the city's second major public library will be built in Sanchong District next year.
The city government will rebuild the library at its original site in the district. It will invest NT$3 billion (US$92.3 million) to construct an eight-story library, including an indoor sports court, a retail area, and a performance space for 400 spectators. The project is expected to be completed in 2031, per CNA.
The city’s Cultural Affairs Department reported the library’s planning progress at a municipal meeting on Wednesday. It said the new facility will continue the design concept of the city’s first major public library and offer digitized reading services to citizens.
New Taipei’s first major public library, in Banqiao District, is a 10-story above-ground and three-story underground green building with more than 710,000 books and 1,000 journals. The facility utilizes smart lighting and external airflow for cooling in non-summer months.
The library in Banqiao features seven exotic-themed reading spaces. It also offers citizens access to e-books, audiovisual and e-sports areas, and an art exhibition space.
Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said the city government’s second administrative building in Sanchong District began construction in 2022 and is expected to be completed next year. The nearby New Taipei Industrial Park has attracted companies such as E.SUN Bank, Chicony Electronics Co., and TransGlobe Life Insurance Inc. He added the district, along with Banqiao and Xinzhuang, will become one of the city’s three major hubs.
The city government added it will invest NT$5.3 billion to upgrade the city’s existing 386 libraries. In celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, architectural models and design drafts submitted for the new library’s design competition were displayed at the city hall on Wednesday.
