The Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) has launched a new service called the “Limited Indigenous Book Boxes” to promote equal access to reading in indigenous areas. Starting from 11:00 A.M., July 1^st, 2023, residents of indigenous areas can apply for this service on KPL’s official website. There are 30 book boxes provided each month; each person is limited to one application per month. The book box service, built upon a previous initiative called “Reading Bag on the Go--Epidemic Edition,” is specially designed for three indigenous areas without KPL branches to deliver books directly to applicants’ homes. Kuannyi Construction Company’s public welfare fund will fully sponsor the round-trip postage of this service. Applicants do not have to pay additional fees. To return the books, applicants can simply send them back to the nearest local post office.

Director Wang, Wen-Tsui (王文翠) of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government, expressed that this initiative was proposed by the Youth Board of Directors at KPL. Having noticed the needs of the indigenous areas, the Youth Board of Directors proposed to provide a free book delivery service to the public living in the indigenous areas to bridge the cultural gap between urban and rural areas and promote reading equality for all. This proposal was approved by the board of directors of KPL, resulting in the library’s official launch of the “Limited Indigenous Book Boxes” service in 2023. Starting on July 1st, the service aims to spread the joy of reading to places and bridge the reading divide between people.

Jheng, Zuo-Cih(鄭左慈), a Youth Board of Directors member for the first and second terms, said that the proposal is based on the board’s involvement in library affairs and participation in the consensus summer camp. Wang, Sin-yan(王心妍), a member of the first Youth Board of Directors, noticed that some residents living far from the library might not want to use or reduce the use of library resources due to transportation difficulties. Therefore, drawing from the experience gained from the “Reading Bag on the Go--Epidemic Edition” in 2021, the Youth Board of Directors proposed that the library plan and implement a free book delivery service to people living in remote areas. The main objective is to increase the usage of KPL’s resources among residents in remote areas and narrow the gap in borrowing resources between urban and rural areas. The Youth Board of Directors is delighted to see their proposal moving forward and the service launched online this summer.

Acting Director of KPL, Lin Yi-Cheng (林奕成), stated that KPL has Taiwan's first-ever in-house mobile reading fleet, connecting 6.51 million volumes of books to form a gigantic library. To cater to the public’s needs for reading and borrowing books, KPL has implemented various reading channels. For instance, KPL has specially extended the borrowing period for children’s books in the “Limited Indigenous Book Boxes” service to align with the standard 28-day borrowing period for adult books. This extended period allows parents and children to read together without wasting reading resources due to time constraints.

Kuannyi Construction Company explained that they were deeply moved by their friend’s child, a Youth Board of Directors member at KPL who took the initiative in caring for and concerning the reading needs of disadvantaged families in indigenous areas. KuanYi’s mission is “Maximizing the Happiness of Home,” which resonates with KPL’s thoughtful service. The Construction Company hopes to be more involved in promoting public welfare projects related to reading equity in the future.

KPL’s “Limited Indigenous Book Boxes” service offers a total of nine categories of books, including books of indigenous characteristics featuring indigenous literature, indigenous culture, and indigenous picture books; Children’s books in knowledge and science, fantasy literature, and life education; and general books in fiction and literature, sports and wellness and librarian’s picks. The librarians carefully select books for each box, containing around five books each box, and deliver them to the readers. The service aims to offer indigenous residents equal access to reading resources for parents and children and promotes a friendly reading environment for readers in indigenous areas. 

The three regional indigenous libraries have been restored to local autonomy since 2014, and local district offices now manage them. However, reading demands remain among residents. Therefore, KPL has introduced KPL’s Mobile Libraries, storytelling performances by theater groups, Kaohsiung Babies Loves Reading: Parent-child Reading Workshops, early reading gift bags, and reading promotional events to link reading resources in the indigenous areas. For more information, please check out the official website of KPL.

KPL has launched the “Limited Indigenous Book Boxes” service to enhance reading equality in indigenous areas. Starting from 11 A.M. on July 1st, 2023, book boxes containing books in nine thematic categories will be carefully selected by librarians and delivered to readers’ homes. Each box has around five books, and the round-trip postage for the service is fully covered by Kuannyi Construction Company public welfare fund. Applicants of this service do not need to pay additional fees for this service.