• 2015-12-01

In 2014, just last year, NCL Director General Tseng and National Library of Australia Director Anne-Marie Schwirtlich signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Union Catalog of Chinese Rare Book database, enriching Sinology research resources and promoting resource sharing. On the 1st of December this year (2015), Director General Tseng made another trip to the National Library of Australia to offer a gift from the national treasure: an ancient engraved book which has eight hundred years of history, the replica of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dong po. This treasure certainly enriched their collections and proved to be a historic moment in the cooperation relation of both libraries, opening opportunities for future exchanges.

Di Pin Ouyang, supervisor of Asian Collections at National Library of Australia and Director Tzu-an Bi, Education division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia, were both present offering their warm congratulations. They look forward to a closer future cooperation of both Libraries.

Alex Philip, National Library of Australia Director of Overseas Collections Management was responsible for the reception and guided tour. In his address, he specially thanked the NCL for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Union Catalog of Chinese Rare Book database that promote resource sharing. He is most grateful for the precious gift of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dong po, which provides Australian Chinese Studies researchers valuable research data.

At the ceremony site were displayed not only The Annotated Poetry of Su Dong po “, but also publications and maps related to Taiwan, creating a gratifying feeling in the visiting delegation. It also shows the importance given to Taiwan Studies and the friendship and support given to NCL.

In her speech, NCL Director General Tseng presented in a special way the origin of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dong po. This gave the participants a better understanding of the value of this collection of poems. Moreover, they became more aware of the greatness of this Song writer.

After the meeting and opening ceremony, Director General Tseng also visited the services of the National Library of Australia which included the special collections reading room, popular books exhibition area, information retrieval area, periodicals area and others. The Library space design is well lighted and spacious. Books return area uses cabinets so that books are not scattered disorderly in the book shelves keeping the space neat and orderly and offering readers a comfortable reading environment.

The Library has bookstores, restaurants and electricity charging area, providing readers with many practical and functional services.

The Australian National Library has a rich Chinese collection, mainly printed editions from the 19th to the early 20th century and a small number from the 17th-century.

At the special collections reading room of the National Library of Australia

The popular books exhibition area of the National Library of Australia

The information retrieval area of the National Library of Australia

At the periodicals area of the National Library of Australia and others
 

The comfortable reading room of the National Library of Australia

The Library has bookstores, restaurants and electricity charging area, providing readers with many practical and functional services.