• 2024-02-26

In an effort to promote cultural exchange with our ally, on November 21, 2023, the National Central Library and the Haitian consulate held a book exchange ceremony and a lecture. Haitian Ambassador Roudy Stanley Penn, NCL Director-General Shu-hsien Tseng, many foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives in Taiwan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Li-kuo Chen, and a representative from the Ministry of Culture were invited to attend and witness this book exchange ceremony.

National Central Library Director-General Shu-hsien Tseng stated during her remarks that in recent years, NCL has expended much effort in developing international exchanges and expanding its influence worldwide. With regard to the consulates of its ally nations and representative offices in Taiwan, NCL has donated books, promoted reading, and other cultural events. Taiwan and Haiti are close to 14,900 km apart, but the two countries have enjoyed over 60 years of friendship. The two countries not only support each other and maintain their friendship but also have sustained development in trade and cultural exchanges. Each year, Haiti has more than one hundred students come to Taiwan to study at our universities. This time NCL set up a Taiwan Corner at the Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti, making it the 13^th one worldwide. Over 80 books were donated, including fifteen Chinese-French comics produced by Golo, such as Made In Taiwan. Other books included those on Taiwan’s history and customs. Museum items included artifacts, paintings, and works of calligraphy. We believe that through the books displayed on this Taiwan Corner shelf, many Haitians will be able to better understand Taiwan through reading. This will improve the mutual understanding of our peoples and ensure libraries will become an important platform for cultural exchange in the future.

The Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti is an important local scholarly institution as well as the head of the public libraries in the country. Established in 1939, it has more than 80 years of history. The library strives to preserve, procure, and disseminate the literary assets of Haiti. It also ensures the right of the public to read the archived materials. Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti Director-General Dangelo Neard is an important figure in Haiti’s cultural and intellectual circles. He was a radio host on the international French radio station Koze Kilti. He also used to host the show “Les gens de lettres” on Radio Télévision Nationale d'Haïti, on which he would promote works of literature. Currently he hosts a weekly show on Caribbean TV called “Books and You.” In April 2020, after becoming the Director-General of the Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti, he used media to promote the Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti, expanded reading, and increased cultural capital for Haiti. After the book donation ceremony, Neard spoke on “Books, Engines of Living Together and Generators of Humanity in a World in Crisis” to share his viewpoints. In addition, he also presented NCL with 15 books by notable authors in Haiti to promote books from his country and to increase the cultural exchange between Taiwan and Haiti.