• 2025-07-02

The National Central Library (NCL), Taiwan participated in the 2025 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, held in Philadelphia from June 26 to 30, showcasing the practical applications of its electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) collection. Ting-You Wu, Assistant Editor of NCL’s Knowledge Services Division, represented the Library at the event, participating in the poster session and a series of conference activities.

NCL’s featured presentation, titled "Leveraging NCL’s ETD Repository: Introducing WriteAid Similarity Scanner", highlighted the collaborative development of the WriteAid Similarity Scanner with National Taiwan Normal University. This tool utilizes NCL’s extensive ETD archive to assist graduate students in enhancing the originality and quality of their academic writing. The poster attracted considerable interest from international professionals, facilitating productive exchanges and promoting NCL’s innovative services on a global stage.

The ALA Annual Conference is one of the world’s most significant gatherings in the field of librarianship, drawing thousands of librarians, educators, authors, publishers, and information professionals from across the globe. This year’s conference featured nearly 200 sessions, including lectures, forums, discussions, and workshops, covering topics such as reader services, community engagement, STEM education, and emerging library technologies. Over 500 vendors also exhibited their latest products and services.

NCL’s selection for the poster session not only underscored Taiwan’s achievements in leveraging theses and dissertations to support academic services, but also facilitated meaningful international engagement and collaboration.

A delegation comprising representatives from the National Central Library, National Taiwan Library, National Library of Public Information, Taichung Public Library, National Chengchi University, National Chung Hsing University, and Fu Jen Catholic University jointly attended the conference. The group also visited the University of Pennsylvania Libraries to explore the latest trends and innovations in U.S. academic library services.

Coinciding with the “Free Museum Days” in Philadelphia, conference attendees had the opportunity to explore the city’s renowned historical and cultural institutions. These visits offered inspiration and fresh perspectives, energizing future efforts to develop innovative library services back home.