Will Independent Bookstores Disappear? -Film Project Aims to Preserve Bookstore Culture and Spirit

Research by Assistant Professor Lee Ling-yee (李令儀) from NTU’s Department of Sociology shows that Taiwan's independent bookstores have dwindled from over 2,000 at their peak to fewer than 500 today—a trend that continues to decline. In response, the National Association for the Promotion of Community Universities (NAPCU), Sin Yang Ping Community University, and PTS have launched a film project spotlighting these bookstores.

The project received 62 submissions showcasing independent bookstores across Taiwan. Organizers hope the initiative will not only highlight the struggle of these bookstores to survive but also, through the eyes of citizen journalists, reveal their deeper role. Independent bookstores are more than places to buy books; they are vital spaces that nurture and preserve cultural roots.

以下為中文對照

獨立書店終會消失？影片徵案冀留住書店文化和精神

台大社會系助理教授李令儀的研究發現，全台的獨立書店從全盛時期的2,000多家，掉到目前不到500家，還呈現下滑趨勢，2024年社會大學全國促進會、新陽平社大和公視，舉辦了獨立書店的徵案活動。

這次徵案共有62部影片，包含全台多間獨立書店，主辦單位希望徵案活動，不只能夠讓更多人關注獨立書店的存亡，更是希望民眾能夠透過公民記者的鏡頭，察覺到獨立書店的功能，不僅是買書跟賣書的關係，更是蘊涵著種下文化種子的重任。