SDG1
Proceeds from NCKU Library's 21st Used Book Sale Donated to Genesis Social Welfare Foundation
The 21st Annual NCKU Library Used Book Charity Sale kicked off at noon today (23rd) at the gallery on the basement floor of the NCKU Library and will continue until 3:00 PM on the 27th. For the past 20 years, NCKU Library has remained committed to respecting intellectual property rights and valuing resources, continuously promoting this used book sale. This event not only provides a great opportunity for book lovers to discover treasures but also serves as a significant action in supporting underprivileged groups and giving back to society.
As of last year (2023), the event has donated nearly 120,000 books and raised over NT$3.3 million, all of which has been donated to charitable organizations, creating a positive impact on society. This year's proceeds will be entirely donated to the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation's Tainan Branch.
In her opening remarks, NCKU Library Director Tzu-Fun Fu warmly welcomed and expressed gratitude to everyone participating in this year's Used Book Charity Sale, celebrating the event's 21st year. Director Fu reflected on how people come together in various ways, and how lives intersect in different forms. Through reading, we can connect with authors across time and space, allowing ideas and minds to flow. In addition, with used books, readers can have an interesting encounter with the previous owner, making it a beautiful and serendipitous connection.
She emphasized that since the event's inception in 2004, the NCKU Used Book Charity Sale has become more than just an opportunity for book lovers to find great reads; it has also become a significant way to support underprivileged groups and give back to society. Every book is a precious treasure of knowledge. Through this event, people can not only keep books in circulation and find new owners for them but also support charitable causes, injecting positive energy into society.
This year's proceeds will be donated to the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation’s Tainan Branch. Director Fu expressed deep appreciation for the foundation’s contributions to society and hopes that, through this event, collective efforts will provide support for the care of people in a vegetative state and their families. She concluded by quoting Mater Teresia: "We may not be able to do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
Director Shu-Yuan Sun of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation's Tainan Branch expressed her gratitude for the donation from the NCKU Library's Used Book Charity Sale. She emphasized that caring for people in a vegetative state is a long-term commitment. Currently, the Tainan branch provides care for 60 people in a vegetative state and offers in-home services to 200 individuals who are either bedridden or elderly with disabilities. With Taiwan set to enter a super-aged society next year (2025), the proportion of elderly individuals who become vegetative will likely increase. Director Sun noted that fundraising for the care of vegetative patients is challenging and encouraged everyone to participate in the "NCKU Used Book Charity Sale" to continue offering care and support to those in need.
NCKU Library announced that this year’s used book collection campaign, which ran from June 24 to September 6, saw participation from 320 generous donors, with a record-breaking 14,951 books donated. Each year, many heartwarming stories emerge during the collection and event process, and this year was no exception. Library staff recalled an event on August 14, when Tainan experienced heavy rain. The library received an unexpected call from the Tainan Hotel, offering to donate 312 books. These books were originally provided for hotel staff to enjoy during their leisure time and to expand their knowledge. However, upon learning about NCKU Library’s used book charity drive, the hotel decided to generously donate part of their collection. This act of kindness not only added a touching human element to the event but also inspired the staff working on the campaign.
Each year, NCKU Library’s Used Book Charity Sale donates all proceeds to social welfare organizations. In selecting donation recipients, the library maintains a rigorous approach, ensuring that the funds generated from the community's goodwill are entrusted to top-rated, reputable social welfare institutions. This year (2024), the proceeds from the sale will once again be donated to the Tainan Branch of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, an organization with over 30 years of dedication to caring for people in vegetative states. This marks the fourth time the foundation has been chosen as the beneficiary of NCKU Library's charity sale, following previous donations in 2004, 2007, and 2016.
The Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, which now operates care homes in 23 counties and cities across Taiwan, provides care for over 2,000 people in vegetative states and has helped countless families facing severe hardship. The foundation upholds the belief that "saving one person in a vegetative state is equivalent to saving an entire family," offering both professional care and psychological support to families under immense emotional and financial pressure. By providing a dedicated care environment for these individuals, the foundation helps families regain hope. Throughout its journey, the foundation has relied on the support of compassionate individuals from all walks of life, allowing it to continue delivering warmth and opening new possibilities for both vegetative patients and their families.
This year’s collection for the charity used book sale covers a wide range of categories, including literature, science, art, and children's books, ensuring that there is something to meet the needs of various readers. NCKU Library hopes that every participant can find a book that resonates with them. Everyone is warmly invited to join the charity event before 3:00 PM on the 27th, stepping into this world filled with hope and warmth, where hidden treasures await and love and knowledge can once again bloom among us.
The sale is being held in a dedicated space in the B1 Art Corridor of the library, where the books are displayed using a variety of library furniture and tables, offering participants a unique book-browsing experience unlike any other.
As of last year (2023), the event has donated nearly 120,000 books and raised over NT$3.3 million, all of which has been donated to charitable organizations, creating a positive impact on society. This year's proceeds will be entirely donated to the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation's Tainan Branch.
In her opening remarks, NCKU Library Director Tzu-Fun Fu warmly welcomed and expressed gratitude to everyone participating in this year's Used Book Charity Sale, celebrating the event's 21st year. Director Fu reflected on how people come together in various ways, and how lives intersect in different forms. Through reading, we can connect with authors across time and space, allowing ideas and minds to flow. In addition, with used books, readers can have an interesting encounter with the previous owner, making it a beautiful and serendipitous connection.
She emphasized that since the event's inception in 2004, the NCKU Used Book Charity Sale has become more than just an opportunity for book lovers to find great reads; it has also become a significant way to support underprivileged groups and give back to society. Every book is a precious treasure of knowledge. Through this event, people can not only keep books in circulation and find new owners for them but also support charitable causes, injecting positive energy into society.
This year's proceeds will be donated to the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation’s Tainan Branch. Director Fu expressed deep appreciation for the foundation’s contributions to society and hopes that, through this event, collective efforts will provide support for the care of people in a vegetative state and their families. She concluded by quoting Mater Teresia: "We may not be able to do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
Director Shu-Yuan Sun of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation's Tainan Branch expressed her gratitude for the donation from the NCKU Library's Used Book Charity Sale. She emphasized that caring for people in a vegetative state is a long-term commitment. Currently, the Tainan branch provides care for 60 people in a vegetative state and offers in-home services to 200 individuals who are either bedridden or elderly with disabilities. With Taiwan set to enter a super-aged society next year (2025), the proportion of elderly individuals who become vegetative will likely increase. Director Sun noted that fundraising for the care of vegetative patients is challenging and encouraged everyone to participate in the "NCKU Used Book Charity Sale" to continue offering care and support to those in need.
NCKU Library announced that this year’s used book collection campaign, which ran from June 24 to September 6, saw participation from 320 generous donors, with a record-breaking 14,951 books donated. Each year, many heartwarming stories emerge during the collection and event process, and this year was no exception. Library staff recalled an event on August 14, when Tainan experienced heavy rain. The library received an unexpected call from the Tainan Hotel, offering to donate 312 books. These books were originally provided for hotel staff to enjoy during their leisure time and to expand their knowledge. However, upon learning about NCKU Library’s used book charity drive, the hotel decided to generously donate part of their collection. This act of kindness not only added a touching human element to the event but also inspired the staff working on the campaign.
Each year, NCKU Library’s Used Book Charity Sale donates all proceeds to social welfare organizations. In selecting donation recipients, the library maintains a rigorous approach, ensuring that the funds generated from the community's goodwill are entrusted to top-rated, reputable social welfare institutions. This year (2024), the proceeds from the sale will once again be donated to the Tainan Branch of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, an organization with over 30 years of dedication to caring for people in vegetative states. This marks the fourth time the foundation has been chosen as the beneficiary of NCKU Library's charity sale, following previous donations in 2004, 2007, and 2016.
The Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, which now operates care homes in 23 counties and cities across Taiwan, provides care for over 2,000 people in vegetative states and has helped countless families facing severe hardship. The foundation upholds the belief that "saving one person in a vegetative state is equivalent to saving an entire family," offering both professional care and psychological support to families under immense emotional and financial pressure. By providing a dedicated care environment for these individuals, the foundation helps families regain hope. Throughout its journey, the foundation has relied on the support of compassionate individuals from all walks of life, allowing it to continue delivering warmth and opening new possibilities for both vegetative patients and their families.
This year’s collection for the charity used book sale covers a wide range of categories, including literature, science, art, and children's books, ensuring that there is something to meet the needs of various readers. NCKU Library hopes that every participant can find a book that resonates with them. Everyone is warmly invited to join the charity event before 3:00 PM on the 27th, stepping into this world filled with hope and warmth, where hidden treasures await and love and knowledge can once again bloom among us.
The sale is being held in a dedicated space in the B1 Art Corridor of the library, where the books are displayed using a variety of library furniture and tables, offering participants a unique book-browsing experience unlike any other.
NCKU Library Director Tzu-Fun Fu (left) and Tainan Branch Director of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, Shu-Yuan Sun (center), expressed mutual support and gratitude.
NCKU Library Director Tzu-Fang Fu (left) and Shu-Yuan Sun, Director of the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation Tainan Branch (center), expressed mutual support and gratitude during the event. This year marks the 21st consecutive year of the NCKU Library's annual used book charity sale, with the number of donated books reaching a record high.
The used book charity sale attracted enthusiastic support and participation from a large number of faculty, students, and members of the public.
The used book charity sale will continue until the afternoon of the 27th. NCKU Library invites everyone to participate and support this meaningful event.
