wfn.org | Taiwan’s Church Archives Go Public and Digital

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2965 Edition

>December 22-28, 2008

Taiwan’s Church Archives Go Public and Digital

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

To digitalize and preserve valuable items such as literature, historical  records, hand-written letters from foreign missionaries of old, previous  editions of the Taiwan Church News, the General Assembly of the  Presbyterian Church in Taiwan signed an agreement with the National  Central Library (NCL) on December 16th, which will also facilitate  educational research and public access to these information in the  future. The agreement will cost NCL $5 million NTD and will enable  everyone in Taiwan to access information related to Taiwan churches  online.

The agreement was signed by NCL Director General Karl Min Ku and the PCT  General Secretary Andrew Chang. It stipulates that NCL will restore,  archive, and digitalize church historical records, pay for all  associated costs, and provide the PCT with all the digital files for  safekeeping and future use. During the signing, Ku stated that the  project was a worthy cause that reflected the importance of meticulously  preserving important historical documents – a priority for all  workers at NCL. The NCL has also signed agreements with Tainan Municipal  Library recently to turn all documents left from the Japanese colonial  era into digital format. It has also signed an agreement with Da-Ai  Television (a Buddhist network) to preserve some of its broadcast  information at the NCL.

According to Chang, it is a pleasure to sign an agreement with the NCL  that will enable it to archive into digital format cultural and  educational contributions of churches to Taiwanese society. There are  currently over 40,000 documents waiting to be digitalized and made  available for educational research. Ku emphasized that the agreement was  only the beginning of an important partnership. The most important thing  was preserving valuable information for future generations.

Andrew Chang noted that the Presbyterian Church was established in  Taiwan 143 years ago and there are currently 1,222 Presbyterian churches  across Taiwan, including over 500 aboriginal churches. Foreign  missionaries have spread the gospel of Christ through serving in the  fields of medicine, education, media, and care organizations. Their  multi-dimensional approach to evangelism not only saved people’s  souls but also offered physical, educational, and emotional relief, thus  fulfilling the words of Jesus when He said that He had come to give  people an abundant life. Taiwan’s first high school, first  girls’ high school, and first university and seminary (Tainan  Theological College and Seminary) were all founded by the Presbyterian  Church. As history progresses, the country must endeavor to preserve  documents that have historical value. Hence, Chang is very grateful that  church history and related documents will be preserved and made into  digital format by NCL as the process will enable more people to browse  these precious documents.

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