• 2013-02-26

The 2102 survey result of reading habits in Taiwan has been reported and received a great response. "Reading the World with Pleasure--the 2012 Survey Result of Reading Habits Press and Award Ceremony" was held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 by the Ministry of Education. Education chief secretary Chou-tai Wang gave a speech. He expressed the Ministry's long-term attention to public reading, and his gratitude to people who promoted most the reading programs. He also gave awards to the distinguished librarians and book loan models for public libraries. Increasing Reading Ability of the Public libraries in Taiwan:The survey result of the 2012 reading habits among the public in Taiwan has been announced by National Central Library Director-general Tseng Shu hsien. She explained with statistics of the public’s reading ability and the main population of reading:1. Over 16,020,000 persons borrowed books, grew 0.85%, average 0.7 times per person borrowed books.2. Items loaned in 2012 was over 61,620,000, grew 8%, average 2.6 items checked out by each person.3. Average 3.1 trips to library each person4. One person has library card among each two-person group5. The main reading group in Taiwan is 31-50 years oldStatistics showed that reading ability among the public in Taiwan has increased and that public libraries have made a great job to promote reading program.Reading Trends of the Public in Taiwan Reflected the Pulse of a Society: Reading interests of the public in Taiwan reflected some phenomena from the report as follows.1. Imaginative literature for literature reading2. Going to schools, education and financial management, and enhancing individual competitiveness3. Eating and beauty care, traveling and good living, as well as enriching the contents of life4. Paying attention to the value of life, environmental protection, and the study of ecological issues5. Looking at the future development in Taiwan from various anglesImaginative Literature is the Favorite of Public Reading in Taiwan: The public’s most interesting book is language and literature. From national loan statistics and analysis of favorite of national reading, we found in 2012 that the public favored imaginative literature. As for pure literature, only Nien-chin Wu’s “These persons, those things,” the Minister of Culture Yin-ta Lon’s “Great River Great Sea in 1949” have been selected. This phenomenon reflected that in literature and novels of swordsman loans, imaginative literature has dominated the public reading in Taiwan as the strong type of reading.Reading Trends of the Public in Taiwan Reflected the Pulse of Social Development: Nine non-literature books won top 10 loans of all subjects are: “The Way Medical Excellent Students Study for Full Mark at Tokyo University Medical School” by Yoshinaga Kennichi, “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom, “Simple Thinking about Blood Type” by RealCrazyMan, ”Kulin and Wan Hsin’s Magic Forest” by Kulin, “Carole’s Open Kitchen” by Chiyun-Chiyun Hu, “Battle Song of Mother Tiger” by Mei-er Tsai, “Travel with You to China: A graduate gift a Taiwan father gives to his son” by Hsiung-Hui Wu, “Steve Jobs,” by Walter Lsaacson, “The Future that I See” by Chan-show Yen. From all these titles, we can see the public’s exploration of their interests that are: going to school and education, the value of life, environmental protection, and ecology. Writers have looked at the future development in Taiwan through the close dialogue between reading and the pulse of social development.Domination of Japanese Cartoons: Japanese cartoons dominated circulation but old master stands 7th in circulation. Local cartoonist Chou Ba Dao’s “The 8th Bronze Man of Shao Lin Temple” illustrated by Fu-loan Chiow was listed. For novels of swordsman, old writers and new ones shared the market. On the circulation ranking list, two volumes each by Huang Yi and Chen Fon were listed among the first fourth group. The old writer Chin Yon won from 5th to 10th in ranking. It’s the old writers and new ones that share the circulation list. Korean knowledge cartoon and history story are children’s favorites. Children’s interests could be seen from circulation that Korean knowledge cartoon and history story both won. Three-year-old Baby Loves Reading and Checked out 1,733 Books a Year:There are total 51 borrower models from children, young people, adult, and senior citizen recommended by nation’s public libraries to be awarded by the Ministry of Education. Media focused on a three-year-old baby Yo-yu Chen who is youngest model for checking out among all children, with his record of 1,733 volumes checking out in one year. His father Yun-shih Chen said his baby is influenced by his book-loving mother and his 8-year-old sister. Although he cannot recognize Chinese characters, he imitated his sister’s reading and read both picture books and literary books with great interests. He goes to library almost every day and his family is filled up with the flavor of books.Continue to Enhance Reading Atmosphere and Develop Public’s Reading Competitiveness:By the announcement of the survey result, local government are able to handle readers’ interests and hope to put more resources to promote reading program, as well as expand library collections with the purpose to provide to the public creative services. Publishers are able to publish more good quality products to match public’s reading tastes. Director-general Tseng Shu hsien said that reading exalts language and helps creativity and that the public favors reading language and literary books, so she will suggest the reading of more knowledge books and other related books. National Central Library will hold Taiwan Reading Festival this year, issue certificate to readers in community, establish community resources center for public libraries, strength resources in knowledge-type library, host activities to lead the public getting in touch with multiple subject books. We hope all people come to make an effort to raise the reading ability in Taiwan.Caption: Director-general Tseng Shu hsien is reporting on survey result of the 2012 reading habits among the public in Taiwan