In the hope of breathing new life into the local glass industry, the Hsinchu Municipal Glass Arts and Crafts Museum was opened on December 18, 1999. It is the first museum focusing on glass in Taiwan. The building itself is a classical and graceful two-story structure built during the Japanese era. The museum is divided into various sections, including an exhibition area, a glass workshop, a library, a web station, and a gift shop. Apart from its exhibitions, the museum also stresses passing down the culture of glass making, and its library has a large collection of books and other media on related topics. At the Glass Studio artists demonstrate how works of glass art are created. The well-equipped studio also offers weekend classes. The Permanent Exhibition Room includes displays containing both actual objects and models about the history of glass, glass production techniques, materials and finished products.The Special Exhibition Room hosts temporary exhibitions of works made by glass artists from Taiwan and abroad. Its purpose is to show how glass in its many forms mix with lifestyle, art, and technology. The exhibit "Glass Technology, Civilization and Everyday Life" explores glass's place in modern technology and civilization, as well as the use of glass in everyday life.