The National Archives Administration unveiled Taiwan’s first permanent archives building on Tuesday.
In the past, Taiwan’s national archives were located in a number of different rented spaces, making it difficult to manage. The new building brings the archives together in a permanent location in Hsinchuang District, New Taipei City. The building is not only environmentally friendly, it offers nearly 4,400 square meters of storage space. Officials say that the total number of physical files can be spread out across a distance of 16 kilometers.
The head of the National Development Council, Kuan Chung-ming, spoke on Tuesday at the opening ceremony for the new archives building. It was the last public appearance in his term in office.
“In the last several years, especially after coming to work for the government, I’ve come to the poignant realization that our society spends way too many resources and too much time on fleeting matters, many of which are trivial, and people instantly forget what they’ve said as soon as they’ve said it," said Kuan.
"And yet, so many people sit in front of their TVs watching them go on and on about nothing. On the other hand, we spend too little time looking at and cherishing the files and pictures which contain meaningful historical memories.”
Officials say the new archives building meets the standards of similar buildings in other countries, using materials which protect the collection from heat and moisture. It also features highly efficient climate control, which has a waste heat recovery system, and can achieve 75% energy savings.