Showcasing Multilingual Retrieval Technology: Bringing Cultural Knowledge to Life
From September 10 to 12, 2025, United Digital Publications (UDP) was honored to participate in the European Association of Sinological Librarians (EASL) Annual Conference in London. The event gathered leading scholars and librarians from across Europe, offering a unique platform to highlight the evolving role of Chinese-language humanities resources in the global knowledge landscape.
Beyond serving as an exchange hub for vendors and library professionals, the conference also featured enriching cultural visits, enabling participants to gain deeper perspectives on the historical legacies of Europe’s libraries and museums.
Architecture and Knowledge Intertwined: Exploring the British Library
The program opened with a guided tour of the British Library, the largest repository of books in the United Kingdom. Participants explored the library’s architectural design, collection management systems, and logistics infrastructure, while also viewing one of the world’s most extensive map collections. The visit not only highlighted the library’s modern operations but also traced its historical development from the British Museum, offering a profound look at how spaces of knowledge evolve within cultural and institutional frameworks.
Dialogues with History: Chinese Collections at the British Museum
The following day, attendees visited the British Museum with a special focus on Chinese art and cultural heritage. Led by expert curators, the tour explored artifacts ranging from ancient bronzes and carvings to calligraphy and paintings. This experience fostered not only an appreciation of artistic achievement but also a deeper reflection on the contemporary significance of cultural preservation and interpretation.
Demonstrating Innovation: Multilingual Translation and Cross-Database Retrieval
At its exhibition booth, UDP showcased the latest AI-powered multilingual translation feature within the Taiwan Academic Classics (TAC) platform. Supporting Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, German, French, Japanese, and Korean, this new technology enables researchers to seamlessly search across languages in their native tongue, breaking down language barriers and broadening access for scholars worldwide.
The platform also features cross-database full-text search, integrating multiple academic journal databases to help researchers connect insights across disciplines, enhance knowledge discovery, and expand research applications.
With a continued commitment to digitizing, translating, and globally promoting Chinese-language academic resources, UDP reaffirms its role as a vital bridge in international Sinological studies. Looking ahead, we will further develop user-friendly semantic search, intelligent exploration, and data visualization tools—building the next generation of digital gateways for the humanities.
Jeff, Manager of UDP’s Overseas Business Department, had a photo with Dr. Thomas Tabery from the Bavarian State Library.
A group photo of UDP and librarians — Dr. Yan He from the Cambridge University Library — together with other exhibitors.
A guide at the British Museum’s Chinese Antiquities Gallery explaining the details of a Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed camel.
A guide at the British Museum’s Chinese Antiquities Gallery introducing Song Dynasty ceramics.
An introduction of the Klencke Atlas, the largest map collection in the British Library, with a 350-year history.
An introduction of the British Library’s “Treasures” collection, which includes manuscripts by renowned figures from various eras and cultures.
An introduction of the architectural history and design of the institution.
Jeff, Manager of UDP’s Overseas Business Department, posing in front of the booth.
A corner of the exhibition.
