Library Law Promulgated

On January 4, the ROC Library Law passed its third reading in the Legislative Yuan with the full support of lawmakers, laying a strong foundation for the future development of library services. The law is the first of its kind in the ROC. Over the years the number of libraries in the Taiwan area has risen to over 5,000 (including the National Central Library, 562 public libraries, 158 university libraries, 3,715 primary and secondary school libraries, and 573 special libraries) with a combined staff exceeding 15,000. Librarians appealed for the drafting of the Library Law in view of the heavy responsibilities of the library system, the government’s increased attention to educational reform, and the development of Taiwan’s information infrastructure. The need for the law has been especially pressing since the repealing of the Publishing Law, which stipulated the rules for book deposits by domestic publishers. Under the new law, the NCL becomes the repository for domestically released publications and is responsible for compiling a complete bibliography of these publications, including books, periodicals, newspapers, AV materials, electronic media, and Internet resources.