Hsinchu County and City Libraries Launch Shared Borrowing and Returns Network

Readers across Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County can now borrow and return books through a shared network of 22 public libraries. The service, launched on September 4, covers more than 1.5 million books.

Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao and Hsinchu County Deputy Magistrate Hsu Yuan-tung announced the expansion of the two jurisdictions’ reading-resource partnership. Residents can reserve books online, choose a nearby library for collection and return the books at another participating library.

Hsinchu City invested NT$7 million in the system upgrade. Since July, the libraries have introduced professional transport services and automated book-sorting equipment, reducing staff workloads and improving the movement and circulation of collections.

The Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau said readers can search the holdings of both jurisdictions through the public library catalogue system. If a desired book is already on loan, users can place a reservation and select the library closest to their home or workplace. After reading, they can return it locally instead of making a separate cross-county trip.