Brooklyn, NY – Fuyuan Liu, Director of Political Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of New York, presented Brooklyn Public Library’s New Utrecht branch with a collection of Chinese language materials yesterday. The generous contribution, which includes nearly 500 books, was facilitated by NYS Senator Iwen Chu in collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of New York.
“Providing access to books and information in multiple languages is essential to helping our neighbors connect with one another,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “We are grateful to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of New York for enhancing our collection with a generous donation of books, and to New York State Senator Chu for her ongoing and enthusiastic support of libraries.”
The collection emphasizes a shared commitment to enhancing cultural diversity and linguistic education within our communities.
"There is no underestimating the value of knowledge that we can find in books. I’m proud to facilitate the donation of 480 books to the Brooklyn Public Library New Utrecht branch. The two sets of Mandarin learning materials will be a great addition to the many wonderful resources available at the library. I’m thrilled for local families and children to take advantage of the language learning program and to preserve our culture," said New York State Senator Iwen Chu.
The donation has a broad significance. "What we are donating today is more than just books; they are opportunities to learn and explore a new language and culture. Today's donation is part of our larger cooperation under the U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative. 'Let’s Learn Chinese' consists of 12 volumes of 12 lessons, providing learners with comprehensive materials for acquiring Mandarin. We hope that through this donation, we can help enhance students' cultural and linguistic understanding and create a better and harmonious community,” said Ambassador James Lee, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of New York.
The donation consists of two sets of Mandarin learning materials. It joins a range of other materials and programs at the Library designed to increase cultural awareness including multilingual storytimes, language classes, a diverse collection of materials in multiple languages, and performances, exhibitions and programs which represent Brooklyn’s great diversity.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book