National Central Library’s Open Lab wins ALA nod

2023-09-06

National Central Library in Taipei has been recognized by the American Library Association for providing an innovative space for creation. At the library’s Open Lab, you can compose music, do livestreams, learn DIY crafts, and even shoot videos. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
We are reporting live at Taipei 101. At first glance, you might think that I am in the FTV news studio, but I am actually at the National Central Library’s Open Lab.

The room is equipped with cameras, lights, a green screen, and a computer filled with different virtual backgrounds. You can choose a virtual background and report live. We are at the National Central Library’s Open Lab.

Aside from a broadcast studio, there is a room for people to livestream and edit videos. There’s also a room for people to practice and compose music. There is an electric piano and drum set for music lovers to play. Many entrepreneurs come here to work.

Andrew Klerck
Taiwan Impact Entrepreneurs
We come here to create our music. We do our podcasting and video-castings from here. It is absolutely amazing that the government offers these facilities to people like ourselves. Best of all, it is for free. It is super high-quality equipment that they have. It is absolutely mind-blowing.

Hannah Koo
Taiwan Impact Entrepreneurs
We have been using all of the equipment actually almost every day, as much as we can. As Andrew mentioned, we do a lot of podcasting and videos.

The library also has a maker space for DIY lessons like sewing, 3D printmaking, carpentry, and more. People interested in these classes can sign up on the Open Lab website.

Tseng Shu-hsien
National Central Library
We provide a lot of learning courses here, such as DIY courses. There are sewing courses, 3D printing courses, and audiovisual courses. People can use our facilities and equipment to pursue their inspiration. We often have such courses, so you can sign up on our "Open Lab" website.

The library opened its Open Lab Multimedia Center in November 2022. The space used to be an old office. It was converted with the help of architects, interior designers, educators, and librarians.

Tseng Shu-hsien
National Central Library
Over the past few years, we have been thinking about how to pivot and create a library that meets current trends and is a space for creative pursuits. It was initially an administrative office space. So for example, its floor is very low, and there are many compartments and office equipment. The entire construction period was just 206 days. I hope that through this space, the public will have some ideas after reading and getting inspiration, and then implement their inspiration here.

The Open Lab won the American Library Association Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects award in 2023.

「多媒體創意實驗中心」多功能空間供民眾使用

2023-09-06

國家圖書館「多媒體創意實驗中心」榮獲2023美國圖書館學會國際創新服務獎。在這裡，可以盡情創作音樂、進行直播、學習DIY工藝，甚至拍攝影片。一起來看看。

[[民視英語新聞記者楊怡安]]
"記者目前位於台北101，乍看之下，可能以為是在民視新聞攝影棚，但其實是在國家圖書館的「多媒體創意實驗中心」。”

房間裡配備了相機、燈光、綠幕，電腦中還有許多不同虛擬背景可供選擇。可以使用任一場景進行現場直播。這是位在國家圖書館的「多媒體創意實驗中心」。

除了攝影棚室外，還有提供民眾直播和剪輯影片的房間，和另一個供練習和創作音樂房間，裡面設有電子鋼琴和架子鼓可以演奏，也有許多創業者來這裡辦公。

[[台灣創業家聚會社團 Andrew Klerck]]
"我們來這裡創作我們的音樂，我們在這裡進行播客和電視廣播。政府提供這些設施給民眾，真的非常好，最重要的是完全免費，而且這裡都是高品質的設備，真是令人大開眼界。"

[[台灣創業家聚會社團 Hannah Koo]]
"我們幾乎每天都在使用這裡的設備。正如Andrew說的，我們製作了很多播客和影片。"

圖書館還設有手作空間，提供縫紉、3D列印、木工等DIY課程。想體驗的民眾可以在「多媒體創意實驗中心」網站報名。

[[國家圖書館館長曾淑賢]]
"我們這邊提供了很多學習的課程，譬如說有手作的課程、有縫紉的課程、3D列印的課程，還有影音的課程。他們可以利用我們的設施設備來做靈感發想的實踐。我們的課程經常在開，所以大家可以利用我們的網站「多媒體創意實驗中心」來報名。"

國圖「多媒體創意實驗中心」於2022年11月開放。它原本是一間舊辦公室。是由建築師、室內設計師、教育工作者和圖書館員一同改建完成的。

[[國家圖書館館長曾淑賢]]
"這幾年一直是思考如何轉型，打造一個圖書館符合現在的潮流，變成一個創意實踐的空間。原來是一個行政辦公空間，所以譬如說它的樓板很低，然後隔間很多，也是辦公室設備。整個工期只有206多天就完成了，希望藉由這個場域讓民眾從閱讀，得到靈感之後有一些發想，然後實做、實踐的機會。 "

國家圖書館「多媒體創意實驗中心」榮獲2023美國圖書館學會國際創新服務獎。