I read from your mini-Blog that a library director in Taiwan is opening mocked by a newspaper for his (or her?) fundraising efforts. I have to say that I am shocked with disbelief and deeply saddened. Didthe newspaper confuse fundraising for a public service with begging for personal survival? Even the latter should not be mocked, for it's the failures of governments and sins of the society that produce beggars, isn't it?
I guess in Taiwan there is no such organization as a "Friends of the Library"? Almost each township library in the US has a "Friends of the Library" organization, of which I am a member. We are ordinary citizens who value the services offered by the local library. We organize regular fund raising events for the library. (So far this
year we've raised over $8,000 by selling used books donated to us.) We apply for matching donations to the library from our employers. We write to the township council members on behalf of the library asking for increased budget for additional services or building expansion,etc. We meet every two months with the library director to go over her wish list for services that is beyond her current budget and that the Friends could provide.
Perhaps it's time for the formation of such organizations in Taiwan.
Ordinary people need to be in the habit of caring and advocating for their local services, or the value system will continue to be crooked,I am afraid.
Just some thoughts. Library happens to be one of those things that I care deeply, so I have to write. :)
我在回信中，談到地方圖書館的修繕的確是地方政府的責任，另外也提及，據我所知一些地方圖書館也有義工組織在協助，不過因為我未參與過，不知道實況如何。我覺得「圖書館之友」是好點子，是凝聚社區意識的途徑之一。
Sharon繼續分享如下：
I think township libraries are unique organizations. Although they are part of the government structures, and receive government funding for their operation, maintenance and repair, they also function as community centers and offer programs that improve local residents' quality of life, hence the need for the existence of "Friends" that sponsor additional programs and act as advocates.
Our township library is actually quite shabby, compared with others in the surrounding towns, but I feel very attached to it, partly because of my participation in "Friends" for the past 3-4 years. It is true that such participation does encourage community building.
另外，由此新聞想到的是：
台灣人似乎普遍認為：公家的事，就是政府該做的事，而不是「大家該關心出力之事」。以圖書館來講，大部分人認為那是政府機關，當然是政府該出錢，特別是硬體修繕(這次的新聞內容，是圖書館因為風雨損壞，沒錢修理)。政府機構原本就該政府負責，某些方面來看是沒錯，但是若所有的公共事務全推給政府，特別是和社區生活息息相關之事，大概就沒有所謂的公民社會可言了吧？
目前看到的地方圖書館，多半有點聊備一格的感覺，但事實上一個運作得好的鄉鎮圖書館，應該是當地社區生活極為重要的一環，甚至是地方競爭力的一環。正如陳昭珍文中所說：「一棟好的鄉鎮圖書館，買書給鄉下的孩子，等於是給他們打開視野與天地的機會，培養他們一輩子閱讀學習的知能。這種功德，不比拯救生活疾苦的人來得低」。如果地方人士有此認識，大概不必館長向首富開口又受辱，早就有錢捐錢有力出力把圖書館修好了。問題在於圖書館的功用太被忽略了。
鄉鎮圖書館的經費不足，不僅硬體破舊不堪使用，藏書的品質與數量一定也深受影響。政府方面固然責無旁貸，但是若能開發民間力量、特別是當地的資源來加以支持，或許才是永續之道。
實在很厭倦看到什麼都想要靠政府完成的思維。
說到圖書館，不由得想起去世沒多久的Pima江阿勇，他生前為奇美部落募得一萬五千本童書，在教會裡成立了頗具規模的兒童圖書館。也想起中學時代教會曾設立小型圖書館，在那裡讀到很多很多好書，還有令人難忘的讀書會。
我的確認為，圖書館是可以改變人的一生的。把地方圖書館經營好，不僅是公務人員的責任。「圖書館之友」應該可以成為凝聚社區意識的組織，也期待有更多人願意把資源和關心投注於地方圖書館、社區圖書館。
相關報導：
大林圖書館募款修繕 媒體解讀各不同
