Library Features | Visitor Information
 Library Features
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For many years, the Books and Documents Department of the National Palace Museum has been a rich and systematic source for rare Chinese books through the ages, archival documents of the Ch'ing dynasty, and books and periodicals on Chinese art and the humanities. This invaluable source has attracted innumerable visitors and specialists over the years for study and research. The library under its administration has been open officially to the public since April 1996, offering a brand new atmosphere of service. Not only is the space within spacious, the setting is comfortable and orderly, and the facilities considered superb. With such full services as catalogue information retrieval, document image disc browsing, microfiche reading and photocopying, and Internet computer access, the library is an ideal site for information retrieval and academic research. The following is an introduction to its highlights:
1. Rare Books
The core of the National Palace Museum's collection of treasured rare books was inherited from the old manuscripts, annotated editions of masters, movable print editions, and woodblock print editions through the ages from the former Ch'ing, also including a small number of ancient imprints and old manuscripts originally from Korea and Japan. Among the more important objects, one can count the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries of the Wen-yüan Pavilion, the Abstracted Contents of the Four Treasuries of the Ch'ih-tsao Hall, block-printed editions of the T'ien-lu-lin-lang and the Wu-ying Palace, gazetteers, repositories of the Grand Secretariat, Ch'en Chung-t'ao's collection in the Yen-i Tower in Shan-ying, and Yang Shou-ching's book collection from his Kuan-hai Hall. This assembly of books is not only enormous in number, it also includes several extremely rare sole surviving editions. The collection further includes books from the Peking Library entrusted to the management of the Museum. Besides the rich collection of books through the ages, many books submitted in the early Ch'ing and texts dealing with dramas provide an ideal source of material for researching book editions, Ming and Ch'ing dynasty history, and folk literature.
2. Ch'ing Archives and Documents
The various archives and memorials composing the Ch'ing dynasty documents in the National Palace Museum collection number more than 400,000 volumes. They include historical archives compiled by the Historiography Institute, compilations of documents, and documents from the inner court of the former Ch'ing dynasty. They not only provide later generations with a rare glimpse at the Ch'ing dynasty archival system, they are an invaluable treasure of primary material for researching Ch'ing dynasty history. In terms of sources for the Museum collection, they can be divided into the four main types: 1) imperial vermilion-rescripted memorials from the palace archives, archives of the Grand Secretariat repositories, archives of the Council of State (including copies of memorials and assorted archives), and Historiography Institute archives (including various historical materials compiled by the Historiography Institute of the Ch'ing dynasty and the Ch'ing Historiography Institute of the early Republican government). Furthermore, recent years have witnessed a substantial number of private donations (such as the documents of Tseng from Hsiang-hsiang and archives of Ch'ing dynasty foreign relations).
3. Books and Periodicals
To accommodate the general public and academic research in Chinese art and culture, as well supporting the wide-ranging needs of Museum staff in their tasks of arranging, researching, and presenting exhibitions, the National Palace Museum has since moving to its present location in Taipei actively sought and assembled modern and contemporary books and periodicals in Chinese and other languages on Chinese art, culture, conservation, and museum studies. Using open stacks, they are provided for the general reading public for reference. This vast collection of books and periodicals is both academic and professional in nature and social education in function.
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Visitor Information
Hours
Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Library is closed on Sundays and national holidays.
General Library Regulations
| 1. |
The National Palace Museum Library (hereinafter "Library") respects the rights of the public to equal and free access to information. Furthermore, in consideration of the research and professional needs of Museum staff, reading rules for the Library have been established to provide a set of standards for the reading room services of books and periodicals. |
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All individuals who wish to use the Library must be 16 years of age or older. Admission is via a Library card, which can be applied for upon presentation of a valid I.D. or a passport along with two portrait-size photos. |
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Library hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Library is closed on Sundays and national holidays. |
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Library patrons may only bring in stationery items, such as pen and paper. Books and other non-stationery items must be placed in storage lockers in the lobby. Patrons who have special needs and would like to bring in non-stationery items should first ask for permission from personnel at the Library information desk and register. All items of value are the sole responsibility of the patron. All items brought into the Library must be removed upon leaving for the day. Information desk personnel reserve the right to inspect all items brought in or out of the Library. |
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All general books, periodicals, photographs, and non-book materials in the open stacks are available for use by patrons, but they cannot be taken out of the Library. If a patron is found to have taken Library materials out of the Library without permission, the Library shall permanently withdraw Library privileges for that individual and reserve the right to pursue the matter according to the law. Furthermore, when using Library computers to use the Library catalogues and databases, patrons are forbidden from linking to Internet bulletin boards or chat rooms, sending or receiving personal e-mail, browsing websites of a pornographic nature, or playing computer games. In serious cases of such, those who continue to do so after being warned will immediately have their Library privileges terminated. |
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Proper handling and use of Library facilities and materials is required of readers at all times for the benefit of all users. Anyone found to willfully damage, mark, or destroy Library facilities or materials will be liable for all costs of repair or replacement. In serious cases of such, those who continue to do so after being warned will also have their Library privileges suspended for one year. |
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Patrons are asked to keep quiet in the reading room areas and are forbidden from smoking, eating and drinking, or chewing gum. To minimize the disturbance to others and maintain a quiet atmosphere, patrons should turn all personal electronic devices, including cell phones, to their minimum volume. In serious cases, those who continue to disturb the peace after being warned will immediately have their Library privileges terminated. |
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Patrons who remove Library materials from the shelves should place them on the book carts provided or on reading desks after use, so that Library staff can return them to their proper location. |
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For Library paging services of rare books and Ch'ing archives in the Museum collection, please refer to relational regulations. |
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These reading room regulations have been implemented after being discussed and passed in Museum meetings, and they are subject to change using the same procedures without further notice. |
Passed in the 24th Museum meeting on 25 December 2002
Passed in the 7th Museum meeting on 9 April 2008 |
Regulations for Paging Rare Books & Archival Documents
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The National Palace Museum Library (hereinafter "Library"), in order to effectively manage and preserve the Museum collection of rare books and archival documents, as well as to respect the rights of the public to equal and open access to information, has hereby established this set of regulations based on related conventions in the "Law for the Preservation of Cultural Property". |
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The service hours for the paging of rare books and archival documents from the Books and Documents Department (hereinafter "Department") are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, during normal Library operating hours.
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| 3. |
All rare books and archival documents that have been published in compilations, reproduced in microfiche, or digitized as files in their entirety are not available for paging. Only patrons who, for purposes of research, must refer to the original materials may apply for permission to have them paged. |
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| A patron who wishes to page a rare book or archival document must fill out an application form, explain the purpose for paging, and receive permission from the person in charge of the relevant section of the Department. An approved application entitles the patron to the following limit of objects for paging: |
| （1） |
Sung and Yüan editions, rare books, and archives: Due to their age and fragility of the paper, the Department reserves the right to refuse or limit any materials requested for paging.
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| （2） |
Ming and Ch'ing rare books: Two (2) titles, but not more than twenty (20) volumes in total.
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| （3） |
Ch'ing palace memorials: No longer available for paging. Patrons are advised to refer on their own to the compilations of palace memorials published by the Museum or made available by the Museum in digital form.
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| （4） |
Ch'ing Council of State archives: Ten (10) items; those that have been digitized as images or reproduced in full elsewhere are no longer available for paging.
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| （5） |
Other Ch'ing archival materials: Twenty (20) volumes, but coverage not exceeding than two (2) years.
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| 5. |
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Patrons who have paged rare books or archival materials must observe the following rules and regulations during their use:
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| （1） |
No smoking, eating, drinking, or chewing gum is permitted.
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| （2） |
Before handling any materials, all patrons must wear a facial mask and gloves provided by the Department. |
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Absolutely no marking of any kind is permitted on the originals.
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| （4） |
When taking personal notes, only a pencil or computer may be used. No photography or electronic scanning of the materials is permitted.
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| （5） |
All originals must be placed flat on the desk and shall not be held upright or at an angle. Absolutely no bending or folding is permitted. Turning of pages must be done slowly and with utmost care. Patrons should refrain from any actions that may result in damage to the originals.
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| 6. |
Patrons who do not observe any of the above rules, and continue to do so after being warned, will have their reading privileges immediately terminated by the Department and application privileges for reading suspended for one year. In serious cases that result in damage to the originals, the Museum reserves the right to sue the patron for compensation.
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| 7. |
These paging regulations have been implemented after being discussed and passed in Museum meetings, and they are subject to change using the same procedures without further notice.
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Passed in the 24 th Museum meeting of 2002 (Dec. 25)
Passed in the 22 nd Museum meeting of 2006 (Nov. 15)
Revised according to document T'ai-po-t'u no. 0950010652 (7 Dec. 2006) |
Loan Regulations for Photographic Materials of Artworks Outside the Museum Collection
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The National Palace Museum (hereinafter "Museum") Library (hereinafter "Library"), in order to effectively manage the open reading of photographic materials of artworks from outside the Museum collection, has hereby established this set of loan regulations. |
| 2. |
Photographic materials of non-Museum artworks in the Library collection may only be used in the Library and cannot be taken out of the premises. The time for loans is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday during Library hours. |
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Patrons who wish to borrow photographic materials of non-Museum artworks must fill out an application form. The number of materials for loan is in volumes, with a maximum of five (5) volumes available each time. |
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Patrons must handle all photographic materials with care and shall not mark or damage them in any way. To protect the materials, it is forbidden to remove the photographs from the plastic sleeves in the volumes. |
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The Library only provides loan services. If patrons wish to use the photographic materials for any purpose, they must apply to the respective copyright owner of the image or the collector of the artwork. |
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Reproduction of the photographic materials of non-Museum artworks is strictly forbidden. Any patron who proceeds with any form of photocopying or reproduction on his or her own without the expressed written consent of the copyright or artwork owner must bear all related legal responsibilities for his or her actions. |
| 7. |
These loan regulations have been implemented after being discussed and passed in Museum meetings, and they are subject to change using the same procedures without further notice. |
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Passed in the 24th Museum meeting on 25 December 2002
Passed in the 7th Museum meeting on 9 April 2008
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Regulations for Photocopying in the National Palace Museum Library
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For effective management of duplication and circulation of it books, periodicals and materials, and for honoring the right of the public to access its collections, National Palace Museum Library (hereinafter referred to as the Library) formulates these regulations.
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| 2. |
Readers' request to photocopy or duplicate the materials shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of The Copyright Act and The Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. Access shall be granted only to collections of the Library that have been officially released.
Materials whose carriers or binders deemed fragile by the Library may not be photocopied or duplicated. |
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Readers may only photocopy or duplicate the materials for personal research or reference. Readers photocopying or duplicating the materials for other purposes shall be responsible for all legal consequences. |
| 4. |
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Each time, a reader may only make one photocopy or duplicate of the materials, and shall be subjected to the following requirements:
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| （1） |
The photocopying or duplication may not exceed one-third of the publication.
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| （2） |
In the case of a periodical, the photocopying or duplication may not exceed the full length of any article of the periodical. |
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Photocopying of books or files/documents from the Ch'ing Dynasty shall be performed by Library personnel after the application is approved.
The following materials may be photocopied by the readers:
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| （1） |
Microfilm and microfiche of ancient books (including genealogical documents).
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| （2） |
Computer printout (including table of contents and images) of ancient books and files/documents. |
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| 6. |
Fees for photocopying services provided by the Library shall be collected in accordance with "National Palace Museum Library Material Reading, Transcribing and Duplication Fee Standard" (see Attachment). |
| 7. |
The Regulations shall be in force after it is approved by the administrative meeting. Amendment and termination of the Regulations shall follow the same procedure. |
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Passed in the 24th Museum meeting on 25 December 2002
Promulgated pursuant to Official Correspondence T'ai-po-t'u No. 0970003954 dated April 9, 2008.
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Attachment
National Palace Museum Library Material Reading, Transcribing and Duplication Fee Standard
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This Standard is formulated in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 10 Section 1 of the Charges and Fees Law.
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| 2. |
Library material reading, transcribing and duplication fees of National Palace Museum (hereinafter referred to as the Museum) are shown in the attached table. |
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A fee shall be collected from the applicant in accordance with the file/material reading, transcribing and duplication fee standard and related provisions once his/her application to the Museum for permission to read, transcribe or duplicate the file/material is approved. |
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This Standard shall be in force on the date it is promulgated. |
Table (Currency: NT$)
| 1. |
Photocopying of books or files/documents from the Ch'ing Dynasty (size A3 and smaller): NT$3 per page.
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| 2. |
Computer printout (including table of contents and images) of ancient books and files/documents (size A3 and smaller): NT$3 per page. |
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Photocopying (size A3 and smaller) of microfilm and microfiche of ancient books (including genealogical documents): NT$4 per page. |
| 4. |
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Photocopying of the Library's general books and periodicals:
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| Size A4 and B4: |
NT$2 per page.
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| Size A3: |
NT$3 per page. |
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Promulgated pursuant to Administrative Order Official Correspondence T'ai-po-m'i No.0970003951 dated April 9, 2008.
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