• 2026-02-03

NCL hosted the International Seminar for East Asian Library Professional Librarians from February 2 to 4, 2026, with the aim of advancing the integration of Taiwan’s library profession with the international community and promoting Taiwan’s scholarly publications. The theme of this year’s seminar, “From Intelligence to Innovation: Exploring the Future of Libraries through Human–AI Collaboration,” focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the production, organization, discovery, and preservation of knowledge, while emphasizing the human-centered core of library professionalism.

The seminar brought together 20 international librarians from nine countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Thailand—as well as representatives from NCL’s overseas TRCCS partner institutions, to participate in a three-day program of professional training and scholarly exchange. In addition to five keynote lectures, participants visited the Taipei International Book Exhibition and the National Archives to gain deeper insight into Taiwan’s achievements in publishing and cultural preservation.

In his opening remarks, Acting Director-General Chih-tsung Weng of NCL noted that since 2009, the biennial International Seminar for East Asian Library Professional Librarians has become an important platform for international scholarly exchange in the library profession. Evolving from a regional initiative into a cross-cultural and transregional professional community, the seminar demonstrates the library sector’s collective commitment to addressing changes in knowledge and technology through dialogue, collaboration, and learning.

All five keynote lectures were conducted in English, featuring scholars from Taiwan and Singapore who shared their latest research and practical experience. Professor Hsin-chieh Lee, Director of the Institute of Technology Management at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, discussed “Development Trends in Library 4.0,” analyzing how libraries can achieve intelligence and innovation in the digital age. Assistant Professor Wei-ning Cheng of National Taiwan Normal University and Professor Chris Khoo of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (joining online), jointly explored “The Integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Graphs,” examining the impact of AI on knowledge organization and service models.

Assistant Professor Chia-ling Chang of Tamkang University presented “Applications and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Humanities,” discussing the practical applications of AI in cultural preservation and digital humanities, as well as the challenges involved. Yi-chen Wu, Consultant to the Digital Publishing Committee of the Chinese Book Publishers Association, analyzed the integration of digital publishing and library services and offer perspectives on the future development of scholarly resources. Professor Chih-ming Chen of National Chengchi University delivered a presentation titled “Applications of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse in Libraries,” examining the impact of virtual–physical integration on library services and operations.

In addition to the keynote lectures, participants visited the Taipei International Book Exhibition to experience firsthand the latest developments in Taiwan’s publishing industry and the advancement of Chinese-language scholarly resources. On the afternoon of the third day, they toured the newly inaugurated National Archives to gain insight into Taiwan’s achievements in archival preservation, digital governance, and the transmission of cultural memory.

This seminar not only demonstrates NCL’s commitment to advancing international scholarly exchange but also promotes the practice of human-AI collaboration. Through diverse international perspectives, NCL strengthens its partnerships with libraries around the world and provides a forward-looking practical framework for how libraries globally can balance innovation with their core values in the age of AI.