The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Kaohsiung Branch Office and the Cultural Affairs Department of Pingtung County unveiled a new American Shelf on March 31, 2015. The American Shelf is located in the Children’s Reading Room of Pingtung County’s Cultural Affairs Department.
The American Shelf program provides books about the United States to children and youth, to help them better understand American culture and society. The collection includes information about studying and teaching English, as well as “EducationUSA” materials highlighting university and graduate school opportunities in the United States.
Pingtung County Cultural Affairs Department Director Jin-fa Wu and AIT Kaohsiung Branch Chief Robert DeWitt jointly hosted the opening ceremony. In his opening remarks, Mr. DeWitt said, “We hope this American Shelf will become a window connecting Pingtung to the world.”
As part of the partnership between AIT and the Cultural Affairs Department of Pingtung County, AIT will provide brand-new books for the American Shelf across a range of categories, including children’s picture books and literature for teenagers and young adults. AIT will also host English storytelling programs and other cultural programs at the new location.
This latest American Shelf complements AIT’s other U.S. information resource centers located across Taiwan, including American Corners in Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei, which is also host to the first American Innovation Center in Asia. AIT has also teamed up with local partners to set up American Shelves in Taoyuan County, Yilan County, and Tainan, and cooperated with the Commonwealth Magazine Education Foundation to unveil a Mobile American Corner in 2013.
Pingtung American Shelf Quick Facts:
Location: The Library of Pingtung County Cultural Center
Address: No. 69, Da-lien Rd, Pingtung City
Phone: 08-736-0330
Website: http://www.cultural.pthg.gov.tw/pthglib/
Opening Hours: open to the public during regular library hours
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
