As citizens welcomed the coming of a long-awaited summer vacation, the Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) has launched a series of limited events, including thematic book exhibitions, DIY workshops, and speeches that will prove both enriching and enjoyable for audiences. Additionally, bilingual storytelling sessions have been scheduled for families, promising a fun yet educationally fruitful activity for parents and children alike. The summer vacation has officially kicked off KPL's “Young Kaohsiung Rising,” featuring programs such as “Camp Young Learning Together” and the “Kaohsiung Youth Literature Award.”

Picture 1: Podcasting is the central theme of the 2025 Camp Young Learning Together.

Catered explicitly to young individuals, these programs encourage youths to explore and cultivate their potential. Other programs include citizens’ all-time favorite “PLAY READing” event series and “A Night at the Library,” a camp chock-full of surprises. Equally as noteworthy is the “Farmers’ Market” held on the weekends at the Main Library's plaza on the first floor, uniting local delicacies and reading. These events and activities make KPL a calm haven for those seeking shelter from the summer heat. KPL sincerely invites all citizens to partake in the festivities alongside their families.

For parents concerned that their children would neglect their studies during the summer vacation, KPL Director Chin-Yang Lee assured that the library has launched a variety of diverse reading-centered activities where children can read, learn, and grow. These activities are not only enjoyable and educational but also welcome the participation of parents. This year, over 40 reading-themed events have been scheduled throughout the summer for citizens to attend and explore, encompassing a plethora of diverse activities, including speeches, camps, markets, and storytelling sessions. As a library with deep connections to the community, KPL is the ultimate temple of knowledge for citizens of all ages. Similar to the main library, the branch libraries will consecutively launch their own series of events. Reading enthusiasts from all walks of life are welcome to visit KPL to find their ideal summer activity.

An event under the banner of “Young Kaohsiung Rising,” the “2025 Camp Young Learning Together” officially began on July 14 with the theme “The Power of Your Voice: A Guide to Building Your Podcast Channel.” Two registration sessions were organized for the event, which opened until July 8. Designed as a course, the camp took place over four days. Participants spend the first two days exploring the secrets of the human voice and catching up on trending topics, while the last two days are reserved for them to learn how to utilize their voices when telling stories.

Picture 2: KPL has scheduled and organized many diverse activities for the summer vacation.

Another event was soon held on July 12. For this session of the City Lecture Series, KPL invited Cheng-Yun Ye, a literature teacher at CiJin Junior High School who moonlights as a performer under the name “He Who Eats Job's Tears on the Streets.” In addition to demonstrating his unique method of teaching Chinese literature using Taiwanese, Ye also performed rap for the audience during the speech.

Wen-Yong Hou will visit KPL on August 23 as the main speaker for a sharing session featuring his most recent work, Becoming Your Ideal Adult Self. Young citizens are encouraged to register and participate in the event. 

KPL's branch libraries are set to organize family-centric events and activities to cultivate creativity and scientific knowledge from July to August. Among them is the ChungLun Branch Library Fun Science Camp, where participants will learn to turn recycled materials into gold with their own hands. Which has been scheduled for July 19 and August 2. Three other branch library events will be held on August 9, comprising “Dance Workshop: Reviving the Past Through Art,” “Youth Literary Writing Camp,” and “Reading, Analyzing, and Writing: A Feast of Literary Works” at the Dadong Arts Library, the Siaogang Branch Library, and the Fongshan Second Branch Library, respectively.

Picture 3: KPL's main and branch libraries will organize various DIY workshops during the summer vacation.

The “Dance Workshop” encourages young individuals and citizens to learn about all art forms. By exploring the world of dance and performing arts, citizens would grow to better understand themselves and their own hearts. Afterwards, they would delve into understanding local cultural values through drama and music. They could enrich themselves in all aspects of life, including communication, sense of aesthetics, and physical health. Meanwhile, “Youth Literary Writing Camp” and “Reading, Analyzing, and Writing: A Feast of Literary Works” are organized to guide readers into better understanding the emotional nuances in a text and encourage them to write about the beauty of life.

Picture 4: KPL promises a variety of speeches during summer vacation that are targeted at young individuals. 

Additionally, the Kaohsiung Youth Literature Award is accepting submissions until September 14. KPL reminds citizens to register for a chance to win this year's amazing prizes.

In addition to the events mentioned above, KPL's main and branch libraries have scheduled small-scale book exhibitions, storytelling activities, table game sessions, scientific DIY events, and DIY workshops throughout the summer. Citizens are encouraged to visit the library nearest their homes and register to participate in preferred activities. For more detailed information, please visit the official KPL website  https://www.ksml.edu.tw/)  or Facebook page  https://reurl.cc/GNkkb3).