• 2024-10-05

In an effort to promote exchange between libraries in Taiwan and South Africa, on June 21, 2024 the National Central Library donated a Taiwan Corner display and 80 books to the Cape Town Branch of the National Library of South Africa. Mr. Marcus L. Maphile, who is in charge of library operations, received the donation. Mr. Maphile was also invited to speak that day on “The National Library of South Africa: Mandate, Operations, Management, and Key Projects.”

National Central Library Director-General Han-ching Wang stated South Africa is a country with three capitals. Of these, Cape Town is the legal capital of the country with parliament and many government offices located there. It is often called the “Mother City” and is the birthplace of libraries in South Africa. According to The Law of the National Central Library of South Africa, South Africa has two national libraries. These are the Cape Town Campus (established in 1818) and the Pretoria Campus (established in 1887). Mr. Maphile has over 25 years of experience in libraries and publishing. Currently, he is in charge of public engagement at the National Library of South Africa and operations at the Cape Town campus. He is also responsible for the promotion of reading, writing, and publication of official languages. Needless to say, he is very influential in South Africa and in the African region as a whole with regards to library science and culture. To deepen the cultural exchange between Taiwan and South Africa, NCL also donated a Taiwan Corner display as well as 80 books on Taiwan’s history, customs and people, geography, and natural scenery. It is hoped through this display, the citizens of South Africa can get to know Taiwan better. This marks the 15^th Taiwan Corner that NCL has installed in public libraries around the world.

During Mr. Maphile’s visit, he was invited to speak on the 20^th. NCL, Fu Jen Catholic University’s Monumenta Serica Sinological Research Center, and the Monumenta Serica Institute in Saint Augustine, Germany cohosted a “2024 International Symposium of Monumenta Serica Encounter of Africa and Chinese Culture: Classics, History, Religion and Images.” In addition, NCL also arranged for Mr. Maphile to visit important university libraries, the main branch of the New Taipei Public Library, and the Beitou branch of the Taipei Public Library to promote future collaboration and exchange.