Autumn reading club: settling in the Czech Republic
Two Taiwanese women who found work here and have lived in the Czech Republic for years tell how they settled in. Online via the Facebook event.
Over 600 books in Mandarin, open on the first Saturday of the month
The Prague Traditional Chinese Library (布拉格正體中文圖書館, Taiwan Library) has lent books donated by the Taiwanese community since April 2023 to anyone who reads traditional characters. Volunteers run it. Borrowing is free for everyone.
300+books for adults
300+books for children
1open day a month
15books at a time per reader account
How to borrow a book
- Fill in the short reader registration below. We do not verify your details; we rely on mutual trust.
- Open day: the first Saturday of the month, 10:00–18:00, Sněmovní 174/7, 118 00 Praha 1. We announce changes on the library’s Facebook page. For another date, e‑mail library@taiwanese.cz. By arrangement you can also pick up books on Wednesdays, 10:00–16:00, when the association is open. You can read on site during open hours. Children under six come with a parent.
- You can borrow up to 15 books per account. The loan runs until the next open day. A loan that is not overdue can be renewed twice, each time by one open day.
- If you live outside Prague, you can have books sent by post once a month: 1–5 books 100 CZK, 6–10 books 200 CZK, 11–15 books 300 CZK plus postage. Arrange it with us in advance. Post the books back by the return date and e‑mail us the proof of posting.
Catalogue
We keep the full list of titles in a catalogue, last updated on 29 November 2024. For each book you will find the ISBN, title, author, publisher, number of copies and how many are on loan.
Open the catalogue (PDF)Lending rules
The lending rules apply from 29 November 2024. Open: the first Saturday of the month, 10:00–18:00. Limit: 15 books per reader account. Loan: until the next open day, two renewals. Anyone who breaks the postal rules can no longer use the service.
Lending rules (PDF, in Chinese)Reading club
Seasonal meetings at the association’s premises, in spring together with the members’ meeting. Everyone presents a book they like, followed by a talk. The last two editions could also be followed online. Editions so far:
- 7 March 2026, a foreign correspondent on international reporting and fact-checking
- 13 September 2025, two members of the Taiwanese community on settling in the Czech Republic
- 1 March 2025, our chairperson Mia on the Czech school system
- 24 June 2023, Professor 趙芝良 on ethnic economy and tourism among Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples
Stories for children: September fairy tales in Mandarin, online and free
Free online storytelling in Mandarin for children. Join on Google Meet from anywhere.
"Maria of Ermosa" – Cao Ming-zong
What secret is actually hidden in "Maria of Ermosa"? Most likely it's the intoxicating atmosphere, full of history and emotion!
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun – Gretchen Rubin
Drawing on her own experience, the author explores in this book how to live happiness in everyday life. Over a year of experiments and observation, she discovered that happiness actually springs from small changes and simple decisions. Every habit and every action can help us live a more fulfilling and contented life.
"Being Alone with Yourself" – Tsai Hui-fang
Who does "being alone with yourself" actually accompany? Why, the heart that knows you best!
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store – Keigo Higashino
What is actually sold in the "Grocery Store of Worry Relief"? A bottle of brandy to chase away your troubles would probably fit in there too!
"Taiwan Guide" – Stephan Thome (施益堅)
"Taiwan Guide" – Stephan Thome (施益堅)
"Classic Stories for Children" – three volumes in total
I'm continuing the story of my trip to Taiwan. This year I went back partly on business, so for the last week my Czech colleagues met up with me and we took part in events in Taiwan together. Of course, I wanted to show them the beauty of Taiwan! Over the past eight years, I have returned to Taiwan five times in total. On my first four visits I didn't set foot in a single temple, but this time I visited at least six (not counting the ones where we just stopped briefly on the way to take a look). The biggest impression? Taiwanese temples are truly rich! Especially Xingtian Temple!
"What is missing outside, do not look for inside" – An Anthology of Contemporary Czech Prose
I came across this book quite by chance when I went to visit the Taipei International Book Exhibition. It really was by chance – the Czech Centre Taipei was also exhibiting at the fair, mainly presenting its own publication, "An Anthology of Contemporary Czech Prose". I chatted with the staff at the stand for a while, and they gave me the book as a gift. The anthology contains works by 11 prominent Czech authors from the last 25 years and explores seven important themes of contemporary Czech literature: diverse gender identities; longing for one's homeland and roots; environmental protection and mysticism; women in a world dominated by men; looking out at the wider world; the succession of generations; and the uncertainty of today's world.
Song of the Sad Café – Zhu Shaolin (朱少麟)
At the Eslite bookstore, a new edition of this book caught my eye, so I'm presenting it to you, because it has a special meaning for me personally.
"The End" (盡頭) – Tang Nuo
"The End" (盡頭) is a collection of literary criticism and essays by Tang Nuo, continuing his characteristic depth of thought and wide reading. The book revolves around the theme of endings, exploring the places where literature, film, history and personal experience meet, and describes in sensitive words how people make decisions and struggle when they stand before their limits.
"Searching Among the Thorns" – Wei Tiancong
Wei Tiancong is a Taiwanese writer who published the classic magazine Bi hui (《筆匯》) and later, in 1966, also the Literary Quarterly (《文學季刊》). Both magazines combined realist and modernist literature and became the cradle of many important Taiwanese writers.
"I Write My Own Future: A 17-Year-Old Gold Medalist of the Informatics Olympiad and 500 Days of Clashes with the System" – He Ta-jui
This is a true story about youth and dreams. It tells how He Ta-jui, a 17-year-old gold medalist of the Informatics Olympiad, overcame the limits of the system in the midst of difficulties and challenges and went after his own future.
"Dancing Bears" by Witold Szabłowski
The title "Dancing Bears" immediately reminded me of North Korea, a country famous for its bear performances. The book uses the last dancing bears in the European Union as a metaphor for people who moved from former communist countries to a free, democratic system: freedom may look like a universal value, but nobody (no bear) knows how to exercise this natural right without being taught.
"Eat, Pray, Love" – Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth is a writer and journalist who has twice won a National Magazine Award for in-depth reporting. Elizabeth Gilbert has never set limits for herself, and in this book she shares her methods and her approach to developing creativity. After divorcing her first husband, she traveled the world alone, met her second husband, Felipe, and wrote down this story in her memoir "Eat, Pray, Love".
"The Little Black Sheep" – Eleonore Schmid
A lively, adorable little black sheep lives among white sheep. She asks the others, "Why am I black?" Nobody knows, and nobody thinks it matters. The shepherd, on the other hand, is happy about it and says that the little black sheep is his most special sheep.
The Index Fund Revolution – Charles D. Ellis
Charles D. Ellis is a respected figure in the investment world, a well-known investment adviser and academic, and a former member of the Yale University investment committee, with a great reputation in the world of finance. His book "Winning the Loser's Game" is also widely known.
Reader registration
Books donated by the community
The Taiwanese community and other organisations donated the books. We accept books in traditional characters for any age and genre. We do not collect magazines or other time-limited titles. Donations: library@taiwanese.cz.
