What to know | Hsinchu County Main Library Plans October 29 Trial Opening: Dates and Service Changes
The key details: The new Zhubei library plans a trial period through November 15 and a formal December 18 opening. Borrowers should also check changes at the former Cultural Affairs Bureau Library.
The Hsinchu County Main Library is expected to be in trial operation from October 29 to November 15, 2026, and will be officially opened on December 18. The location is located at No. 155 Ziqiang 3rd Road, Zhubei, near Dongxingzhen Park. The new library is oriented towards public cultural functions such as reading, learning and performance. Before arranging a visit, the trial operation of the new library and the service adjustments of the original Cultural Affairs Bureau library should be confirmed separately.
Cover image: 新竹縣政府
Hsinchu County Main Library buildings and trees. Image: 新竹縣政府Exterior space of Hsinchu County Main Library. Image: 新竹縣政府
What is the difference between trial operation and official opening?
The trial operation is the stage before the official opening. Some spaces, activities and collection usage methods may be opened according to the arrangements of the day. The recently announced trial operation information focuses on in-library reading, and it cannot be directly inferred that all book borrowing, returning and reservation services have been switched simultaneously.
If you are going for a specific event, you should first check whether registration is required for the event; if the purpose is to borrow books, you should check the borrowing and picking up methods available on that day. Visiting the building, reading in the library and handling borrowings are three different needs. It is easier to find the correct announcement if you clearly explain what you want to do before setting off.
What are the service changes in the old building starting from October 20?
The Hsinchu County Public Library stated in an announcement on October 20 that the Cultural Affairs Bureau Library has completed phased collection inventory work, and all floors have reopened. At the same time, the "Cultural Affairs Bureau Library" has been suspended from being selected as a reservation collection point since October 20. Previously, items such as closed-stack retrieval, convenience-store book collection, receiving donated books, and good book exchanges have also been suspended since September 12.
A schematic diagram of the future art library building plan, not a completed photo. Image: 新竹縣政府／竹間聯合建築師事務所A schematic diagram of the future art library courtyard planning, not a completed photo. Image: 新竹縣政府／竹間聯合建築師事務所
These adjustments point to preparations for the relocation of the former Cultural Bureau Library, which does not mean that every township library in the county will cease services. To check the pick-up location for reserved books, you should first confirm the library name and notification in the system, and then followOfficial service adjustment announcementProcessed to avoid going to the wrong address just by looking at "new main library opening".
Next to Dongxingzhen Park, how do reading and parks connect?
The new library is designed with the concept of "library in the forest", combining natural elements and Hakka architectural features, and forming a relationship with the surrounding canal green corridor. For readers, the library is not only an indoor space for storing books, but also can be connected with walking, staying and parent-child daily life.
Library facade and surrounding greenery. Image: 新竹縣政府
In actual use, the building can be observed from the entrance, seating, lighting and circulation of different age groups, instead of just looking at the exterior photos. Whether a public cultural space is convenient for repeated use often comes from these specific arrangements; the trial operation also provides users with an opportunity to understand the configuration of the new library.
When going to Zhubei, first check the library name, address and services on the day
The new library is located on Ziqiang 3rd Road, while the mailing address of the former Cultural Affairs Bureau Library is on Xianzheng 9th Road. The two are not the same location. Transportation, parking and entry methods should still be arranged according to the latest information from the library, and do not interpret the nearby high-speed rail zone as meaning that you can arrive directly after exiting the station.
For readers who want to know the public spaces in Zhubei, the new main library and Dongxingzhen Park can form the same urban observation route. For original borrowers, it is more practical to first confirm the service switching information: where to pick up the books, when they can be borrowed, and which library they are currently using, so that the new reading space can smoothly connect to their original lives.
