This paper is written for the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Taipei Public Library. This paper discusses the functions and roles performed by the general public libraries, the research resource services provided by the metropolitan public libraries, and the organizational structure of research libraries in the grand metropolitan public library system. To conclude, this paper proposes that to set up a research library in the main library or to establish subject research centers in the regional libraries may be one of the priorities that the Taipei Public Library could consider in the near future.