Remarks by AIT Director Stephen M. Young at the Second Anniversary of the Taichung American Corner May 10, 2007

OT0708E | Date: 2007-05-10

Mayor Hu, Director Yang, Director Huang, and all our Taichung friends---

It is a real pleasure to be with you today to celebrate the second anniversary of the Taichung American Corner.  The American Corner is a great place to increase your understanding of the United States and its people through innovative cultural activities and a wide-range of American books and materials.

Our friends in central Taiwan are very lucky to have one of the best American Corners in Asia located right here.  And I think Taichung is a particularly appropriate place for Taiwan's only American Corner because Taichung is indeed a very special city linking the people of America and Taiwan.  Taichung has sister city relationships with several American cities, including Austin, Texas;  New Haven, Connecticut; San Diego, California; and Tacoma, Washington.

I think the relationship between Taichung and America, though, is best encapsulated through the outstanding cooperation AIT has enjoyed with the City Government of Taichung and the National Taichung Library.  If it weren't for the enthusiasm, expertise, and friendliness of our partners here, the American Corner would not be the success it is today.  Thank you, Mayor Hu, for all you and your colleagues have done to ensure this success.  I know you are a great friend of the American people.  I remember we were here together one year ago to celebrate the first anniversary of the American Corner.

I'd also like to recognize National Taichung Library Director, Mr. Yang, and his staff for their invaluable contributions to establishing and developing this American Corner.  You have done great work in building understanding between the people of Taichung and the people of the United States.

During the past two years, this American Corner has conducted over 150 American cultural programs involving over 5,000 people.

These include:

• story telling programs for young children,
• book discussions and lectures for students,
• and workshops for Taiwan's future leaders.

As the American Corner is located in a library, I cannot neglect mentioning the fabulous special American collection which has grown to over 2,100 books, DVDs and video tapes - most of which are available to be checked out and borrowed by the community.

I am very pleased to see this American Corner growing so much in popularity and Mayor Hu and I are happy to announce that the Taichung American Corner will soon have wheels.  In cooperation with the Taichung City Government, the American Corner will have a special youth-oriented American collection in the Taichung Bookmobile.

The resources in the American Corner and the new bookmobile will help our Taichung friends to broaden their understanding of who Americans are and what America is about.  I hope the American Corner can play a part in making sure that we continue to stay close, stay connected, stay in touch with each other -- and most importantly, listen to each other and understand each other.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for celebrating with us today.  I look forward to seeing you all in our American Corner - both in the library and in the new bookmobile.