Tainan's youth embark on independent bookstore residency for a literary coming-of-age

Twenty young people in Tainan have embarked on a unique journey into the world of literature and retail, participating in the Tainan Public Library's "Dive into the Bookstore Circle - One-Day Bookstore Residency" program. This initiative offers a distinctive coming-of-age experience, allowing participants to explore reading culture through hands-on engagement with independent bookstores.

The program, designed for individuals aged 16 to 25, saw its selected participants complete store manager training at the "Mi Man Tainan" bookstore on July 5. They are now set to be stationed at five characteristic independent bookstores across Tainan for a month, from July 10 to August 2. This immersive experience aims to transform them from mere readers into active practitioners of reading culture.

Participants will be involved in daily bookstore operations, including organizing books, recommending titles, and interacting with customers. The host bookstores each offer a unique focus: "Xin Tai Xing Garment Factory" specializes in photography publications, "Yu Qing Bookstore" blends reading with coffee culture, "Nan Nan Bookstore" delves into Taiwanese literature and urban reading, "Ban Ben Bookstore" addresses life education and humanities, and "Zhong Zi Bookstore" promotes environmental, ecological, and sustainable reading.

"We hope that through this activity, young people will come to understand the people, spaces, and stories behind reading culture, and rediscover the connection between reading and life," said Tainan Public Library Director Yang Fu-ling. The program culminates on August 9 with a special lecture and results sharing session titled "Why Do We Go to Bookstores in the Digital Age?" at Eslite Bookstore Tainan Store.

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We hope that through this activity, young people will come to understand the people, spaces, and stories behind reading culture, and rediscover the connection between reading and life.