Book Sharing Program (mostly Chinese books)

The Ministry of Education and National Publishing Organisation are running an activity from now until mid-December, where you can borrow books from a number of places (Ikari Coffee, Leezen Tea Shops, and some other places), either write your feedback in the book or post it online, then pass the book to people you know. Late-December, all the books are supposed to back to the places of origin, and the feedback will be collated. Contributing publishers include TienShia (天下) and Hsin-Yi Publications, to name two. I was at the Nankang Sport Center Ikari Coffee today, and the books they had were all recently published and in mint condition. The adult books were in Chinese and there were some English-language children's books. The books are just sitting there and you just take them away as you wish. It's kind of fun for kids to take part, and a good chance for adults to read some free books. Not much English material but still an interesting concept.



Website (Chinese): [url]www.nporeadorg.tw[/url]

Taipei County Museum Information in English - "Over 32 museums"

This is a nice site introducing museums in Taipei County.  According to a friend of mine, Taipei County won some special awards for museums last year, so this year several museums are celebrating by offering free entry.  Many of these museums are easily accessible by public transport, so it's definitely worth looking into them.

The English on this site can only be described as "quaint", and should bring a smile to your face

http://en.museum.tpc.gov.tw/html/enmuseum/family/family01.jsp?cid=359

Family Cinema at Taipei Main Library July 2010

Family Cinema


Source:Taipei Public Library

Date:2010/7/1

Time
Every Sunday
10:00 a.m.
07/04 Tom Sawyer
07/11 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
07/18 The Prince and the Pauper
07/25 The Million Pound Note

Information from: http://english.tpml.edu.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1135461&ctNode=32728&mp=104022
Place
Main Library (8th floor Audio-visual Group Viewing Room)
Contact Tel No.27552823#2802

Taiwan Story Land - Taiwan 1950's Style for Kids CLOSED PERMANENTLY

This photo review by a friend of mine really shows you what this museum/hands-on area is about.  Situated across from Taipei Main Station, next to the Mitsokushi building, and with an entrance fee of TWD200 per person, it is a nice place to take the kids for a morning or afternoon.  You can make snacks from the 1950's, play games from the era, and get a feel for Taiwan life that that time.

I have a feeling I have written about this place before, if you find another post please let me know and I will merge them!

Taipei Public Library - How to Find Books and Take Them Out

I love the library here! It's amazing what English books they have, and if they don't have it you can just ask them to get the book into the library.

There are many, many branches of the public library around Taipei City.


Here is a way to search for books and get them delivered to your local branch.

1. Use library book search engine.
http://webcat.tpml.edu.tw/uhtbin/cgisirsi/mztzMpOPx0/C01/317060398/111/ENGLISH

You can either choose just your branch or leave it to search all branches.

2. You will get a list of results like this (for Three Cups of Tea)
http://webcat.tpml.edu.tw/uhtbin/cgisirsi/BdAloAqck8/C01/317060398/123

There are about 30 Engliish copies, 55 recordings, 50 Chinese translations, and a few young reader versions.

3. You can either just print this page out and take to the library front desk, or reserve the book online and have it sent to your closest branch.

On a family card, you can get 20 books out. You can also have an individual card, which gives you 5 books. You can keep them for a month, and renew them if nobody has reserved the books.

World of Chocolate Exhibit at the Taipei Science Museum

This exhibit runs from July 3rd until September 26th.  Tickets are $200 per person, plus $100 per DIY make your own chocolate participant.

Until July 2nd, you can buy three tickets for $400 at 7-11, Family Mart and Hi-Life stores island-wide.  You want to buy the 巧克力奇幻世界票 3張400元 (chocolate exhibit 3 tickets for $400).

There are models made from chocolate, information on the history and science of chocolate, and a DIY activity.

Exhibit Information is currently only in Chinese.

Museum Information is in several languages.

**July 5th:  I took my two kids (ages 6 and 4) to this exhibit today.  Basically, it is like an art exhibit where you can see a lot of sculptures.  All information is in Chinese.  My kids probably got something out of it, but not 400NT worth.  I tried to make it worthwhile by teaching them how to read some Chinese characters, and to talk about the Great Wall of China, the Terrecota Warriors, and why truffles are so expensive.  I do not recommend the DIY activity.  For 100NT, kids get to pour melted chocolate into a round piece of plastic.  There was no explanation of what they were doing and they didn't get to do anything much at all.  And, be warned, the sales area at the end is like a giant chocolate and book market.

Hakka Museum (Sanxia) - DIY & Performances

The Hakka Museum in Sanxia runs ongoing activities for children.

Here a list of the latest activities and performances, in Chinese.

June 20 2:30pm-3.30pm: Dramatic performance in the theater
Until July 25th : Making scented satchets for the Dragon Boat Festival; making windmills; and decorating cookies

I apologise for the limited details but I just got back from NZ and am still trying to catch up on other work!

Read this for general English information.