Introduction

Purpose

The mission of our school library is to meet our school educational needs by collecting materials for teaching and study and providing the combination of educational, cultural, informational and entertainment functions

Brief history of Main Library and Specialized Subject Libraries

The main library, located on the third floor of the Electrical Engineering Building, was established on Dec. 15,1969. In February of 1993, the library moved to the second floor of the Business Administration Building and started developing the library automation system project.

In March of 1994 the library moved to the Nien-Tzu Building, which had been funded largely through a donation from Mr. Hsou-Chi Wu, who was on the school's board of directors. The library's space was expanded to 1700 ping, while specialized subject and research libraries were also established.

In August of 2002, a 13-floor new "Hsou-Chi Library and Information Building" was built. The library moved to this new building and reopened in Sept. 2004.

Library building

The Library is located on the first floor and on the seventh to twelfth floors

Installation of Library Automation

(1)
In Feb. of 1993, the development of the library automation system began. The library automation systems include: library cataloging and classification system, circulation system, and Online Public Access Cataloging.

(2)
In Oct. of 1993, our school finished the first phase of the campus computer network, and the library is one of the most important databases on the network. Those specialized subject libraries which are connected to the campus network can reach the unified catalog in the school by access to the main library bibliographic information.

(3)
In Oct. of 1993, "Index to Chinese Periodical Literature" CD-ROM database was added.

(4)
In Oct. of 1993, the library computer network was connected to the TANet and Internet.

(5)
In March of 1994, the main library moved to the Nien-tze building. Since then, the library security system and the checkpoint gate started functioning.

(6)
In May of 1994, the local area network in the library building was finished.

(7)
In May of 1994,"The Data Bank Review" database was added to the library.

(8)
In Sept. of 1994, "Peterson's college database," "Peterson's gradeline,” "MARS on CD-ROM ," and almost one hundred pieces of computerized multimedia CD-ROMs were added.

(9)
In Oct. 1994, the second phase campus computer network was finished. Since then, all of the specialized subjects and research libraries in the school could be connected to the main library through the campus computer network.

(10)
In June 1999, the library upgraded its automation system by using windows interface, which included Acquisition, Cataloging, Circulation, Periodical, OPAC and WebPAC modules. Furthermore, in order to get access to the multimedia materials more conveniently by using computer and networking, the library built up a MOD (Multimedia On Demand) system.

(11)
The library is working on the unite computer user interface for easy access to the multiple materials of the collections.

(12)
In January 2001, the library provided many very important electronic databases. For example: IEL, ABI/INFORM, EI Village, MLA and so on.

(13)
In 2003, the library added numerous electronic databases such as SDOS, LEXIS NEXIS Academic, S&P’s Compustat, EBSCOhost ASP, JCR and others.

(14)
In 2003, more than 13000 volumes of E-books were added to library holdings.

(15)
In September 2004, the main library moved to the Hsou-Chi Library and Information Building and enlarged the Multimedia Area as one and a half floors.

Speciality

A.
Library Automation: Such as Library Automation system, checkpoint gate system, and Library building security system.

B.
Library networking: All of the specialized subjects and research libraries in the school can be connected to the main library through the campus computer network. Library users also can get access to our library online databases, Multimedia On Demand (MOD), library holdings and varied useful sources by TANet and Internet.

C.
Resources are selected to provide materials and services to support course offerings and to foster independent study and research. Also, the library combined varied databases for library and campus users to get access to many different sources easily.

D.
The library contains Multimedia Area, teaching materials productions room, computer multimedia and audio-visual productions room and so on.

E.
The library signed an agreement with National Central Library in Taiwan to share the bibliographic records.

F.
The library signed many interlibrary loan cooperative agreements to share libraries resources with each other. The 17 cooperated libraries are： National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Tsing Hua University, Shih Chien University, National Chung Cheng University, National Taiwan University, Shih Hsin University, Chang Jung Christian University ,National Tainan University, Leader University, National Unversity of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Medical University, Tamkang University, National Chiao Tung University, National Cheng Chi University and National Kaohsiung Normal University, Dayeh University.

G.
Partnering and Cooperating Associations:

(1)Taiwan E-Book Net (TEBNET)

(2) The Library Association of China.

(3) Scitech Interlibrary Cooperation Association.

(4) Interlibrary Cooperation Association.

(5)The Interlibrary Loan cooperation for nation wide the Technological and Vocational Education Libraries.

H.
Information network services:
The library frequently uses the Internet to offer many library services, such as library reference service, interlibrary loan service and many extended library services.

I.
The library was supported by the Ministry of Education to organize a project called "The Interlibrary Loan cooperation for the Technological and Vocational Education Libraries." Starting from July 1998 a three years project, one can enjoy the services provided by these libraries all over the country by using only one interlibrary loan card. The services include the book sharing, duplication of the journals, reference service, and sharing of library management experiences. The technological and vocational education libraries all over the country are 100% joined in this cooperation plan. The plan is working very smoothly right now and has 93 library members.

J.
Our library is dedicated to meeting the needs of the "Information Age" not only through the traditional print sources of books and journals, but also through the new technologies of computer and electronic information dissemination.

K.
The Library staff places great emphasis upon patron services. Assistance is provided with reference materials, automated information sources, periodicals government documents, special collections, and the general book collection.

L.
Our library acts as the chairman of the Technological and Vocational Education Libraries Committee in “The Library Association of China” and “The Interlibrary Cooperation Association” since 2003.

Future goals

Recently, due to the advent of computer networks, electronic library, optical disks, and multimedia leading edge technologies, we have entered the new era of information storage and retrieval. Therefore, not only does the library have to gradually move toward the direction of the electronic library but also has to support the multimedia computer-aided teaching of every department in the future. In the long run, our goals are to automate the library operation, and convert to an electronic library or even a fully computerized multimedia library.