• 2024-07-02

In order to promote and develop Chinese Studies and Taiwan research, NCL traveled to Seattle to attend the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) annual conference from March 14^th to 17^th in a collaboration with the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange, organizing a Taiwan book exhibit during the conference. Furthermore, exhibited books were donated to the University of Washington at the close of the events, with a donation ceremony held within the UW Tateuchi East Asia Library on the afternoon of March 12^th, local time. A special invitation was extended to Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle to bear witness to this important cultural exchange.

Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, University of Washington Professor Lauren Pressley, and NCL Director-General Han-ching Wang pose for a photo holding National Taiwan University Press, Academia Sinica Press, and NCL publications

NCL Director-General Han-ching Wang stated that significant Taiwanese academic institutions will travel to the USA to participate in this book exhibit at the AAS annual conference, including National Central Library, the Center for Chinese Studies, Academia Sinica Center for Digital Cultures, and National Taiwan University Press, with plans to together exhibit nearly 600 books. In order to disseminate academic developments and achievements in Chinese Studies and Taiwan’s humanities research, each institution plans to donate a portion of their exhibited books to nearby University of Washington, University of Oregon, and University of Montana. Among these universities, the University of Washington in Seattle is home to a library whose collection ranks among the top in North America, in particular the collection in its Tateuchi East Asia Library. The library’s history can be traced back to 1937 when it began establishing its collection; in 1946 it was formally established as the Far East Library. In 1976, it was renamed as the East Asia Library and today it holds a collection of over 800,000 volumes. The library is a major center for Chinese Studies research in the northwest region of the USA and in its early years, Mr. Ching Su of the Center for Chinese Studies assisted the library in cataloging and organizing ancient texts. When NCL began to establish Taiwan Resource Centers for Chinese Studies throughout the world, the University of Washington also became one of the most important bases in the North American region. From 2010 to 2012, NCL assisted the Tateuchi East Asia Library in a digitization project for Chinese-language ancient texts. In addition to the abovementioned collaboration and exchange around ancient texts, NCL has also held several Taiwan Chinese Studies Lectures and themed text exhibitions at UW. Returning to Seattle once again, this visit marks a continuation of book exchange and collaboration between NCL and the Tateuchi East Asia Library since the last time such a donation took place in 2016, when NCL attended that year’s AAS Annual Conference. This book donation underscores the close relationship and enduring collaboration between these two institutions.

At the simple, but meaningful donation ceremony held on the afternoon of March 12^th, local time, NCL Director-General Han-ching Wang first presented the book Pearls of the Sea, published by NCL, as a symbol of the joint donation between NCL and the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange. University of Washington senior library manager Professor Lauren Pressley represented UW in receiving the donation. The book donations made by Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University were presented by Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, with Tateuchi East Asia Library Director Hyokyoung Yi receiving the donation on behalf of UW. In addition, UW invited Professor William Lavely, professor of Taiwan Research Lectures and Director of East Asia Center at UW to give remarks at the event.

NCL hopes through this visit to showcase the current state of Taiwan’s academic publishing industry and to increase the international visibility of Taiwan’s published works so that Taiwan’s research capabilities can continue to make a mark on the international academic stage. After the ceremony, UW arranged a tour of recent library renovations for attendees.