Hsinchu Prefecture Library

The Hsinchu Prefecture Library (新竹州圖書館) was established in 1925 in the East District of Hsinchu City, Taiwan, during the Japanese colonial period. The library's construction was initiated in 1923 by Hsinchu Prefecture Governor Sato Susumu (佐藤勸) to commemorate the Taiwan tour (行啟) of Crown Prince Hirohito. Fundraising efforts collected 35,278.84 yen by 1924, with 10,000 yen allocated for book purchases. The building was designed by architect Usushiki Takeo (宇敷赳夫) and completed on August 31, 1925, opening to the public the following day.

The library is a fine example of Neo-Renaissance reinforced concrete architecture, featuring distinctive horizontal line divisions, decorative brick-pattern striping on columns, and the 16-petal chrysanthemum crest of the Japanese imperial family above its entrance. It is described as one of only three purpose-built standalone public library buildings constructed in Taiwan during the entire Japanese colonial period, and today it retains the most complete original architectural form of the three.

Under the leadership of library director Ota Yujiro (太田雄治郎), the institution was progressive for its era, establishing dedicated reading rooms for women and children. By 1935, the collection had grown to 12,596 volumes. The library also published a periodical called 'Toshokan Dayori' (圖書館だより) from October 1930 to December 1938, issued every ten days.

After Japan's defeat in 1945, approximately 3,861 Japanese-language volumes from the collection were later transferred to Taiwan Historica (國史館臺灣文獻館). The building continued to serve as a public library under successive administrations. On December 29, 1998, it was officially designated as a Hsinchu City Municipal Heritage Site (市定古蹟) in recognition of its historical and architectural significance.

The library underwent comprehensive restoration and reopened on September 30, 2020. It now houses a Starbucks cafe, becoming the first municipal heritage-designated coffee shop in the region. The building is situated along a culturally significant axis connecting the East Gate Roundabout, Hsinchu Moat, the former Hsinchu City Office, and the former Hsinchu Prefecture Hall, forming a cohesive colonial-era urban landscape.