To upgrade Kinmen’s cultural facilities and enhance its reading and learning environment, Kinmen County Magistrate Chen Fu-Hai recently chaired a project meeting on the Cultural Affairs Bureau Library and its surrounding environment. He convened representatives from the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Budget Office, and other departments to discuss in depth the renovation of the library’s north building, the planning of the south building as a parent-child and children’s library, and the overall landscape improvement. Magistrate Chen emphasized the need for an integrated plan that reflects the county government’s people-centered approach, blending knowledge with daily life and integrating cultural resources, with the goal of creating a new Kinmen landmark combining reading, performance, and leisure.
Magistrate Chen convened the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Budget Office, and other agencies to hear the "Cultural Affairs Bureau Library and Overall Environment Project Report." He directed that cultural development be promoted from a holistic perspective, turning the north and south library buildings, the performance hall, and the surrounding Cultural Affairs Bureau area into a cohesive cultural zone with reading, performance, and leisure functions. He praised the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s presentation and stressed the importance of fully utilizing the NT$18 million in central government funding for the north building’s renovation. He also reminded that central funding must be used according to schedule to avoid waste, asking the Budget Office to assist throughout the process to ensure smooth project completion. During renovations, the south building should remain accessible to avoid a "reading gap."
Magistrate Chen emphasized that the library is not merely an infrastructure project, but a key foundation for cultural advancement and educational development in Kinmen. He stated that libraries should be public spaces for all ages to share and enjoy. Therefore, the design should break from traditional frameworks so that children and seniors alike can find suitable corners for reading and learning—truly embodying the ideals of "cultural equity" and "knowledge accessibility."
He also pointed out that the north and south buildings and the performance hall should not be treated as separate structures but as a unified cultural district. The overall budget is capped at NT$100 million, including around NT$48 million for the renovation of the south building children’s library. Funding will be allocated across multiple years, aiming to resolve the renovation, transformation, and landscaping needs in one go. He requested that the Cultural Affairs Bureau quickly submit a supplementary budget proposal to ensure smooth approval, making good use of central government subsidies first and flexibly covering the rest with local funds, ensuring on-schedule project progress and uninterrupted service.
The project report outlines that the north building renovation, with a total investment of NT$25.71 million, will feature red bricks and a gray-white color scheme, gender-friendly and accessible restrooms, a makerspace, a multifunctional conference room, and a Kinmen local archives special collection area—creating a modern reading environment where "the scent of books meets history." The south building will serve as a parent-child and children's library for ages 0–15, with a sensory experience area and child-friendly restrooms on the first floor, age-specific reading areas on the second floor, a periodicals, audiovisual, and anime zone on the third floor, a makerspace and VR experience area on the fourth floor, and a multifunctional activity space on the fifth floor, including a nursing room and other inclusive amenities.
To ensure that hardware investments translate into cultural energy, Magistrate Chen stressed the importance of the right personnel, accurate needs assessment, and professional input. He instructed the Cultural Affairs Bureau to include experts in library and landscape design in the bidding evaluation process to select the best architectural team. He also requested that precise specifications be outlined regarding book collections, reading flow, accessible design, and future operation models. Furthermore, he encouraged incorporating branded cafés, diverse performances, and creative services, creating a fusion of reading and lifestyle experiences. The library should balance traditional archiving and innovative functions, with user-centered design and a long-term maintenance plan to keep Kinmen’s cultural landmark vibrant.
Magistrate Chen underscored that cultural development in Kinmen must be planned with a long-term, strategic vision. He noted that this library and Cultural Affairs Bureau renovation is not only a hardware upgrade but a comprehensive enhancement of cultural content and urban aesthetics. He hopes that through the reimagining of public spaces, knowledge can take root locally and culture can expand outward, making the library more than just a place for borrowing books but a smart hub guiding the city’s future and fostering social cohesion. The Kinmen County Government will continue to integrate resources and build consensus with all sectors to create a cultural hall that belongs to everyone, turning Kinmen into a truly livable, learnable, and tourable cultural island.
Kinmen Wins Dual Honors as “Outstanding City in Overall Reading Performance” and “Most Improved in Reading Strength”
Kinmen’s efforts to boost its reading culture are beginning to show significant results. At the Ministry of Education’s recent “2024 Taiwan Reading Landscape and National Reading Power Annual Report Conference” held at the National Central Library, Kinmen County was recognized for its outstanding reading achievements, receiving two major awards: “Outstanding City in Overall Reading Performance” and “Most Improved in Reading Strength.” These honors reflect Kinmen’s ongoing dedication and innovative breakthroughs in public library operations and reading promotion.
Magistrate Chen Fu-Hai stated that reading is not only a gateway to knowledge but a critical foundation for developing critical thinking and cultural literacy. The county government has long pursued the vision of "culture as the foundation of the county," rooting reading in schools, communities, and households—fostering reading habits from a young age and making reading a part of everyday life. He emphasized that a community that promotes reading can raise its overall cultural level and competitiveness—an essential key to Kinmen’s soft power development.
Magistrate Chen also praised the hard work and creativity of township offices and the Cultural Affairs Bureau. He noted that initiatives like book-rich schools, community reading programs, and digital platform development may seem ordinary but are steadily building the depth of Kinmen’s culture. He hopes that all government agencies will continue to collaborate and launch more locally distinctive and cross-disciplinary reading initiatives, spreading the scent of books to every corner of the island and achieving the ideal of universal reading and intergenerational transmission.
The awards were based on the Ministry of Education’s comprehensive evaluation of public library performance, resource utilization, reading activity promotion, and public participation across counties and cities. Kinmen stood out with its diverse reading program design, integration of digital resources, and culturally grounded strategies, winning over the judges. Jin-Ning Township received dual honors as “Outstanding in Overall Reading Performance” and “Most Improved,” reflecting its achievements in building reading environments and promotion. Lieyu Township was again recognized as “Outstanding in Overall Reading Performance,” showing its strong foundation in reading advocacy.
Looking ahead, Kinmen’s public libraries will continue to strengthen their collections and digital resources, deepen partnerships with communities, schools, and cultural institutions, and create more diverse and innovative reading activities. The county will maintain its focus on culture as its core development strategy, making reading a warm and constant companion in people’s lives, promoting a reading culture that takes root and flourishes.
Magistrate Chen emphasized that Kinmen’s reading policies are not for short-term accolades but are guided by a long-term vision of cultivating cultural capacity among its residents. He said the ultimate goal of reading promotion is to enable every Kinmen resident to live with books, make knowledge a part of daily life, and establish culture as the foundation of their identity. The county government will continue integrating resources from education, culture, and social affairs to make reading a way of life for all, nurturing a community rich in books and hope.
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