• 2018-09-20

The 5^th Annual Xuan Lan Forum was co-hosted by National Central Library (NCL), Nanjing Library, and Shanghai Library, and was held at Nanjing Library on August 21. NCL and Nanjing Library exchanged book donations during the opening ceremony. NCL presented Nanjing Library with copies of the Diamond Sutra and Zimei Rare Books, volume 3. The theme for this year’s forum is “Inheriting Civility, Learning and the Formation of Character.” Eleven experts were invited to discuss the following five themes with attendees: “Public Reading and Social Progress,” “Chinese Books and Cultural Heritage,” “Children and Youth Reading and Changing Dispositions,” “Media Evolution and Varied Reading,” and “Wang Yang-ming’s Way of Reading and the Success of the Philosophy of the Mind.” Papers were presented in the five sessions, with over 250 representatives from China and Taiwan in attendance.

    In addition, From August 2-24, a representative delegation of Taiwan public libraries traveled to Shanghai, Xuzhou, and Nanjing for cultural tours, discussions, and exchanges. As part of this, the delegation toured the Shanghai Library, Pudong Library, Xujiahui Library of Shanghai, Jinling Library, and Xuzhou Library. They also had discussions and exchanges with the library professionals in each of these libraries, allowing both sides to learn from and enhance each other.

    The Xuan Lan Forum started in 2014 through a collaborative effort by Nanjing Library and the Center for Chinese Studies in Taiwan. Each year the forum is held in either China or Taiwan, with invitations to attend extended to head librarians, scholars, and experts from both sides of the strait. This forum provides a platform for scholarly exchange, long-term collaboration, and experience sharing. The aim is to concentrate the power of Chinese cultural heritage.