The 78-year history of National Central Library began with its establishment in Nanjing in 1933. During its early days, China was under the chaos of war, and the National Central Library, serving as the national document archive, was continually relocated with each change of government. Time after time, its collections were split up, and then brought back together again, a turbulent experience seldom matched by any other library of the time. It can indeed be said that the Library grew up in adversity, and its rising and falling fortunes have left behind an indelible impression on China's cultural history. The National Central Library's development can roughly be divided into five periods: planning and establishment; the War of Resistance, westward migration, and return to peacetime; relocation to Taiwan and re-establishment; cultural construction; computerization and the Internet age. Although the Library has wandered from place to place from its establishment to the present day-from Nanjing west to Chongqing, and from Nanjing across the strait to Taipei following the return to peacetime-it has always aspired to be a modern institution and preserver of culture, forging ahead in pursuit of these goals with great vigor. Re-established on its old site on Nanhai Road in Taipei, the National Central Library was kept running through painstaking effort. Finally, with a view to helping firmly establish culture, it was moved to its present location on Chungshan South Road, where is has continued to develop and flourish with each passing day. The Library was later given its present name, and continues to archive the nation's documents, promote learning, and research, develop and guide the work of the island's libraries, advancing bravely into the future with steady strides.