• 2025-04-16

On the afternoon of April 11, 2025 (local time in France), Dr. Han-Ching Wang, Director-General of the National Central Library (NCL) of Taiwan, paid an official visit to the François-Mitterrand building of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF). During her visit, Dr. Wang met with Mr. Jean-François Roseau, Director of International Affairs, and Ms. Emmanuelle Gondranda, Head of Literature and Arts. Both officials extended a warm invitation to establish a Taiwan Corner at the BnF—an initiative aimed at enriching the library’s collection and fostering deeper cross-cultural understanding.

In addition to her meetings, Dr. Wang also toured the Richelieu site and the library’s digital center, gaining a comprehensive view of the BnF’s efforts in cultural preservation and innovation.

The NCL and BnF share a longstanding relationship, having collaborated on Chinese rare book digitization projects in 2015 and again in 2024. This cooperation has laid a strong foundation for academic resource sharing and the safeguarding of cultural heritage across borders and generations. Since 2012, the partnership has evolved into a multilayered collaboration encompassing rare book cataloging, academic symposiums, professional exchanges, and digitization initiatives.

Mr. Roseau expressed hope that the Taiwan Corner would serve as a gateway for French readers to gain deeper insight into Taiwan’s rich culture, literature, history, and art. Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Gondranda proposed future professional exchange programs, including the possibility of assigning BnF librarians to work alongside NCL experts in Chinese cataloging—a move aimed at enhancing the library’s capabilities in processing Chinese-language materials.

Also present during the visit was Ms. Françoise Legrand, Head of Customer Service in the Digital Services Department, who oversaw last year’s digitization collaboration. Her presence further underscored the potential for expanded cooperation in digital resource sharing in the near future.

Dr. Wang expressed her deep appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed NCL’s commitment to supporting the proposed initiatives through the provision of quality publications and professional expertise. With continued collaboration, this partnership promises to further enrich the cultural landscapes of both Taiwan and France.