Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch

Traveler highlights

Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library sits within Beitou Park. Its distinctive feature is a green-building design that responds to the surrounding natural environment and sulfurous air. The current building opened at the end of 2006, combining timber construction with steel and using wood to withstand sulfur corrosion. Large windows bring natural light indoors, while wooden furnishings continue the material palette. The collection holds more than 60,000 books and focuses on ecology and conservation; special sections cover green architecture and ecological protection, and reading balconies connect the interior with the park. The branch began as the Yangmingshan Administration Library and, after transfer and rebuilding, became Taiwan’s first green-building library, earning a Diamond-level green-building label. During a visit, notice not only the timber structure but also how wood, daylight, the park setting and the library’s reading functions work together as an example of sustainable design.