Located in Central Park, the Kaohsiung Literature Library was reopened on May 20, 2025, after being closed for construction to enhance anti-earthquake facilities since September 2024. The opening ceremony, organized with the theme “Residents of the Land,” gathered representatives from local literary organizations, including Director Kun-Lun Chen of Chun Hui Press; Chairman Chiung-Ming Cheng from the Taiwan Literary Foundation; Chi-Chiang Wang, a poet and a general; and Director You-Huang Lee from the Open University of Kaohsiung's Division of Research and Development. Together, they conveyed the five sustainable goals of “harmonious living, literary writing, locality, community, and topical content” to readers by announcing the five characteristic exhibitions and serial events scheduled in the future.

Picture 1: The five guests who offered opening remarks during the reopening ceremony. From left to right: Chairman Chiung-Ming Cheng from the Taiwan Literary Foundation; Director Kun-Lun Chen of Chunhui Publishings; KPL Director Chin-Yang Lee; the general poet Chi-Chiang Wang; and Director You-Huang Lee from the Open University of Kaohsiung's Division of Research and Development. Each guest represents one of the five themes of “harmonious living, literary writing, locality, community, and topical content,” marking the opening of the library's five characteristic exhibitions. 

Director Chin-Yang Lee of the Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) remarked on KPL's long-standing commitment to promoting literature as both reading materials and research subjects. Director Lee further credited experienced literary experts living in Kaohsiung and their heartfelt efforts for the reopening of the Kaohsiung Literature Library, thanking them for educating the future generation. The exhibitions, held in their honor, are also held to awaken the people's memories of the literary works of Kaohsiung. Director Lee looked forward to a future where the Kaohsiung Literary Library will co-exist and grow prosperously alongside the city, with literature as the bridge between them.

Picture 2: During her opening remarks, KPL Director Chin-Yang Lee spoke of KPL's long-standing efforts in promoting literature as a subject of reading and research. Director Lee looked forward to a future where the Kaohsiung Literary Library will co-exist and grow prosperously alongside the city, with literature as the bridge between them.

The re-opening of the Kaohsiung Literature Library is marked by five characteristic exhibitions. Three special exhibitions are held in addition to the long-term organized “Living in the Land: The Local Imagination of the Kaohsiung Literature Library” and “Writing and the City: The Reading Guide to Kaohsiung's Literature” exhibitions. These three exhibitions are: “To Write and Capture Light: The 20th Anniversary of the Kaohsiung Youth Literature Award,” “Cultivating Readers: The Three Great Literature Publishers of Kaohsiung,” as well as “The Silhouette of Literature: Recalling the 100-Year History of Kaohsiung's Literary Communities.” These exhibitions signify the interdependent relationship between Kaohsiung Literature Library and the authors of the city, the establishment and history of the Kaohsiung Youth Literature Award, the development of three local publishers in Kaohsiung, as well as the literary communities and central themes of Kaohsiung's literary works, respectively.

Picture 3: Chi-Chiang Wang, a poet with a career in the military, spoke to represent the long-held “Living in the Land: The Local Imagination of the Kaohsiung Literature Library.” During his remarks, General Wang mentioned the role of urban culture in impacting the contents of literary works. In turn, the Literature Library symbolizes the coexistence of the library and the city.

During his remarks, offered on behalf of the “Cultivating Readers: The Three Great Literature Publishers of Kaohsiung” special exhibition, Director Kun-Lun Chen of the Chunhui Publishings recalled his long-standing passion for reading. Having loved reading since he was young, Director Chen spoke of how reading awakened his enthusiasm for publishing literature, which he has turned into a lifetime career. Having such a process be seen and paid attention to for the first time is the rarest of opportunities. Therefore, Director Lee hopes to bring more inspiration to emerging voices in literature.. Meanwhile, Chi-Chiang Wang, a poet with a career in the military, spoke to represent the long-term held “Living in the Land: The Local Imagination of the Kaohsiung Literature Library.” During his remarks, General Wang mentioned the role of urban culture in impacting the contents of literary works. In turn, the Literature Library symbolizes the co-existence of the library and the city.

Picture 4: Director Kun-Lun Chen of Chunhui Publishings offered his remarks on behalf of the “Cultivating Readers: The Three Great Literature Publishers of Kaohsiung” special exhibition, during which he shared how reading awakened his enthusiasm for literature, to which he has dedicated a lifetime career. Director Chen looked forward to bringing more inspiration for future literary works.

In addition to regular exhibitions, the Kaohsiung Literature Library is collaborating with various institutions and organizations to organize a series of events starting from June. These institutions include the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, the Kaohsiung Museum of Labor, and “A Break Cafe,” a cafe and self-media podcast channel. Aside from the 100-year commemoration of Shih-Tao Yeh, the Kaohsiung Literature Library will hold a writing workshop for career citizens, themed speeches from Kaohsiung literary figures during the weekends, and a literary-themed cinema. The Kaohsiung Literature Library looks forward to future efforts in further cultivating the growth of literary works and growing alongside the city with writers and readers alike.

For more information, please visit the Kaohsiung Literature Library's official website at https://www.ksml.edu.tw/lib/Latestevent/index.aspx?Parser=9,83,918.

Picture 5: A picture of participants and guests holding boards with the symbols of the exhibitions and events, promoting a series of upcoming events organized at the Kaohsiung Literature Library. These events include “100-Year of Commemorating Shih-Tao Yeh,” “Writing Workshop for Career Citizens,” “Southern Weekend Speeches,” and “Literary-Themed Cinema.”

Picture 6: Director Kun-Lun Chen of the Chunhui Publishings guided Honorary Chairman Sian-Long Lin of the Kaohsiung Literature and Art Association through the “Cultivating Readers: The Three Great Literature Publishers of Kaohsiung” special exhibition. The rise and development of Daye Bookstore, Sanhsin Publishings, and Chunhui Publishings mirror the growth of literary works in Kaohsiung City.