A girl in a white and blue student uniform stops in front of a glass door and peers into the interior of a small, well-decorated room. Attracted, she enters and finds herself among row after row of books, neatly arranged. She selects a slim volume and, taking it to a cozy corner sofa, soon becomes intent on her reading.
Avid Taipei readers would instantly recognize an innovative Chung Ching Street bookshop from the above description. Instead of commercial stacks and quick, standup book inspections, it offers leisure reading and full reference services.
The shop is the creation of Lin Hai-yin, a woman known throughout Taiwan for trend-setting publishing innovations.
She entered publishing only in 1967, to assist a group of writers to produce a new literary magazine. The first edition drew widespread attention for its content and special printing, layout and paper. It was, however, of too intellectual a nature to attract the large circulation required to underwrite its high costs; it soon folded.
Lin was not discouraged. She put together new volumes--quality books. Compilations of articles on social concerns and other topics sold surprisingly well. Intellectual subject matter previously ignored in the publishing world became the basis for an industry-wide trend. College students were attracted and sales increased further. More than seventy such editions came off the presses, many published under Lin's direction. Novelettes and translated articles in creased their variety.
Born in Japan, Lin grew up in Peiping where she variously engaged in news and library work after receiving a diploma in journalism.
She moved to Taiwan and became both housewife and journalist--editing the weekend edition of a local newspaper. Her writer friends made her house a meeting place, attracted partly by gourmet meals (she is an avid cook).
Her publishing efforts are meticulous. She personally selects type and format design as well as editorial content for her new books. Mistakes, she says, reflect on writers as well as publishers. So she requires writers to proofread twice, proofreads three times herself and, finally, subjects the publication to a full check-proofreading.
Lin's affection for books has brought her into active management of book-donation programs for refugee camps in Southeast Asia, small community libraries in Taiwan and for disadvantaged groups. Her efforts are marked by personal selection of titles to meet the interests and needs of intended recipients.
Compilations published by Lin include children's fairy tales, love stories for housewives, translated articles and other items grouped into volumes which provide quick-paced, ever-changing reading experiences.
"Chinese Bean curd", one of Lin's newest efforts, is a potpourri of condensed articles, research results, recipes and stories. Greeted with initial skepticism, its success has resulted in English and Japanese translations. She plans two new books for translation, "China" and "Chinese Bamboo", both dealing with Chinese culture.
[Picture Caption]
Lin Hai-yin and her daughter discuss one of the many thousands of books they publish.
1. Lin Hai-yin editing a manuscript. 2. Hsia Dzu-li is her mother's most helpful assistant. 3. Co-workers at the publishing house under the direction of Lin Hai-yin. 4. 5. On average, only about 10 books are published each year. These books on display represent years of hard work.
Lin Hai-yin editing a manuscript.
Hsia Dzu-li is her mother's most helpful assistant.
Co-workers at the publishing house under the direction of Lin Hai-yin.
On average, only about 10 books are published each year. These books on display represent years of hard work.
On average, only about 10 books are published each year. These books on display represent years of hard work.
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