Big data in support of sustainable development of public libraries in Taiwan: NCL’s Nationwide Library Big Data Platform

Abstract

The trend to make use of information technologies and data analysis has helped the libraries complete various kinds of work and grasp the readers’ reading habits and behaviors. To make the library a significant life-long learning place, National Central Library (NCL hereafter) has been coming up with promoting reading among different ages, and helping nationwide public libraries establish a better service environment through multiple orientation and guidelines. In 2021, NCL cooperated with 600 public libraries over 22 cities and counties in Taiwan to build the “Nationwide Library Big Data Platform” which is the country's first library big data platform with the aim to harness the power of data for exploring the reading habits of library readers. The big data analytics would not only help libraries to grasp the reading interest of library readers but also enable the potential in support of sustainable development goals among libraries in following ways: (1) Breaking the boundaries between cities and counties, establishing the partnership for resource sharing and integration to get a better understanding of the library users. (2) Improving the quality of education by providing information related to readers’ reading interest for educational institutions and publishing industries to plan out curriculum and publication theme. (3) Discovering the citizens’ reading ability and helping government agencies in policy-making related to reading engagement and infrastructure investment of the libraries.