About Japan
Region: Asia-Oceania
Area: 377,969 km²
Population: 123,975,371
Libraries (Service Points): 42,140
Libraries in Japan
Located in Northeast Asia, Japan is a Pacific Rim archipelago country with a total land area of 378,000 sq. km. Japan’s first unified government was established in the fourth century. Today, Japan is a democratic constitutional monarchy with a population of over 124 million.
The word for “library” in Japanese is Toshokan. Most cities have their own public libraries, which are popular establishments in Japanese communities. Information technology has caused a rapid change in libraries. According to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Internet access in Japan has reached over 80% for households since 2002, and over 70% for individuals since 2005. Most academic and public libraries have their own Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) on the Internet.
The first public library opened in Japan around 1872, after Western culture was first introduced. The Japan Library Association (JLA) was founded in 1892 to promote library services and librarianship in Japan. In 1906 the first All Japan Library Conference was held, and in 1929 the JLA became a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
After World War II, a new Library Law was enacted in 1950 under the Constitution of Japan. This law stipulated that public libraries should be tax-supported, free of charge, and adequate to meet the information needs of the community. As Japan grew rapidly starting in the 1960s, libraries underwent remarkable development. Mobile libraries were introduced, along with services for children, services for disabled people, audio-visual materials, and computers.
The JLA supports people’s reading and use of information resources and contributes to the promotion of culture, academia, and science by carrying out Japanese library projects. The association has three types of members: individual members (2,769 as of March 2022), institutional members (about 2,158), and supporting members (48). For professional activities, this organization consists of six divisions: the Public Library Division, the University Library Division, the Junior College Library and Technical College Library Division, the School Library Division, the Special Library Division, and the Library and Information Science Education Division.
Publications such as books, magazines, and newspapers are powerful means of distributing knowledge and culture in modern society, and will become the cultural heritage of humankind in the future. The basic role of libraries to collect and preserve these various publications and provide them to all people through various services will not change. In addition to this, the future role of libraries is to provide access to electronic information such as the Internet, and to transmit or store electronic information. In order for the library to fully demonstrate its role, it is necessary to clarify the characteristics of other media provision methods (bookstores, mass media, the Internet) and social education facilities, and to consider service methods that make the most of them.
The following approaches are also conceivable as methods for developing libraries in the future.
- Grasping the current situation of the local community and recognizing that there are various issues in life and work;
- How libraries can help the lives and work of local people, especially local issues;
- Reform services and management so that libraries can support local problem solving and research; and
- Propose such a library and publicize it to local people, including government officials.
Library data (Totals)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. 42,140 |
42,140 2024 |
36 2023 |
1,547 2024 |
3,394 2021 |
— |
37,163 2020 |
— |
|
Main Libraries
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. 2,764 |
2,764 2024 |
2 2023 |
816 2024 |
1,946 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. 1,901 |
1,901 2024 |
34 2023 |
419 2024 |
1,448 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. 312 |
312 2024 |
N/A 2020 |
312 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. 0 |
0 2023 |
0 2023 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. 844 |
844 2024 |
28 2023 |
816 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. 723 |
723 2023 |
3 2023 |
720 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Full-Time Staff
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. 83,879 |
83,879 2024 |
894 2023 |
14,734 2024 |
43,859 2021 |
— |
24,392 2020 |
— |
|
Volunteers
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. 93,947 |
93,947 2021 |
0 2016 |
— |
93,947 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. 32.7 M |
32,683,533 2024 |
662,143 2023 |
3,425,070 2024 |
28,596,320 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. 610,422 |
610,422 2023 |
610,422 2023 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). 569.5 M |
569,458,455 2024 |
— |
18,959,543 2024 |
550,498,912 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). 315.2 M |
315,240,259 2024 |
— |
315,240,259 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Library data (Per 1M People)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
42,140
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. |
339.9 2024 |
0.3 2023 |
12.5 2024 |
27.4 2021 |
— |
299.8 2020 |
— |
|
Main Libraries
2,764
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. |
22.3 2024 |
0 2023 |
6.6 2024 |
15.7 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
1,901
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. |
15.3 2024 |
0.3 2023 |
3.4 2024 |
11.7 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
312
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. |
2.5 2024 |
— 2020 |
2.5 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
0
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. |
0 2023 |
0 2023 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
844
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. |
6.8 2024 |
0.2 2023 |
6.6 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
723
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. |
5.8 2023 |
0 2023 |
5.8 2017 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Full-Time Staff
83,879
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. |
676.6 2024 |
7.2 2023 |
118.8 2024 |
353.8 2021 |
— |
196.7 2020 |
— |
|
Volunteers
93,947
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. |
757.8 2021 |
0 2016 |
— |
757.8 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
32.7 M
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. |
263,629.2 2024 |
5,340.9 2023 |
27,627 2024 |
230,661.3 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
610,422
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. |
4,923.7 2023 |
4,923.7 2023 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
569.5 M
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). |
4.6 M 2024 |
— |
152,929.9 2024 |
4.4 M 2021 |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
—
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
—
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
315.2 M
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). |
2.5 M 2024 |
— |
2.5 M 2024 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Contextual data
|
Population |
Japan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Population Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. |
123,975,371 2024 |
2,388,319,494 2024 |
8,141,808,945 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Younger than 15 Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
19.5% 2024 |
26.4% 2024 |
38.0% 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Older than 64 Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
50.7% 2024 |
20.0% 2024 |
15.7% 2024 |
|
Population Growth Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. |
-0.4% 2024 |
0 2024 |
1.0% 2024 |
|
Population Density Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. |
341.5% 2023 |
97.3% 2022 |
61.6% 2022 |
|
Urban Population Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division. |
92.2% 2024 |
64.4% 2024 |
57.6% 2024 |
|
Information Infrastructure |
Japan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet Users Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
87.0% 2023 |
86.6% 2024 |
71.2% 2024 |
|
Female Internet Users This indicator refers to female individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
82.1% 2022 |
85.5% 2024 |
68.2% 2024 |
|
Male Internet Users This indicator refers to male individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
- |
85.5% |
- |
|
Access to Electricity Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources. |
100.0% 2023 |
98.4% 2023 |
91.6% 2023 |
|
Economy, Poverty, and Employment |
Japan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GDP per Capita This indicator provides values for gross domestic product (GDP) expressed in current international dollars, converted by purchasing power parities (PPPs). PPPs account for the different price levels across countries and thus PPP-based comparisons of economic output are more appropriate for comparing the output of economies and the average material well-being of their inhabitants than exchange-rate based comparisons. Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This series has been linked to produce a consistent time series to counteract breaks in series over time due to changes in base years, source data and methodologies. Thus, it may not be comparable with other national accounts series in the database for historical years. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. The PPP conversion factor is a currency conversion factor and a spatial price deflator. PPPs convert different currencies to a common currency and, in the process of conversion, equalize their purchasing power by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries, thereby allowing volume or output comparisons of GDP and its expenditure components. |
51,685 2024 |
27,212.2 2024 |
24,405 2024 |
|
Poverty Rate Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions. |
1.2% 2020 |
2.0% 2024 |
10.3% 2024 |
|
Inequality Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality. |
32.3% 2020 |
0.0% |
- |
|
Unemployment Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country. |
2.5% 2024 |
4.4% 2021 |
6.2% 2021 |
|
Inactive Youth The share of youth not in education, employment or training (also known as “the NEET rate”) conveys the number of young persons not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population. Youth not in education are those who were neither enrolled in school nor in a formal training program (e.g. vocational training). For the purposes of this indicator, youth is defined as all persons between the ages of 15 and 24 (inclusive). percentage of youth population |
3.1% 2019 |
15.4% 2000 |
- |
|
Education and Literacy |
Japan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Education Spending General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments. percentage of GDP |
3.3% 2021 |
3.5% 2023 |
3.5% 2023 |
|
Adult Literacy Rate Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of people ages 15 and above |
- |
3.5% 2023 |
87.7% 2024 |
|
Female Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15 and above |
- |
95.3% 2024 |
84.6% 2024 |
|
Male Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15 and above |
- |
97.9% 2024 |
90.9% 2024 |
|
Female Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15-24 |
- |
99.2% 2024 |
92.0% 2024 |
|
Male Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15-24 |
- |
99.0% 2024 |
94.1% 2024 |
|
Research and Innovation |
Japan |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research Spending Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. percentage of GDP |
3.4% 2022 |
2.8% 2022 |
2.7% 2022 |
|
Researchers The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. per million people |
5,630 2022 |
2,304.4 2022 |
1,516 2018 |
|
Scientific Articles Article counts refer to publications from a selection of conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals from Scopus in science and engineering fields, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Taxonomy of Disciplines. fractional count |
103,723 2022 |
1,294,313.1 2022 |
3,338,192 2022 |
National Library Associations
Japan Library Association (JLA) / 日本図書館協会
Japan Library Association (JLA) was founded in 1892 to promote library services and librarianship in Japan. In 1906 the first All Japan Library Conference was held, and in 1929 the JLA became a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
The JLA supports people’s reading and use of information resources and contributes to the promotion of culture, academia and science by carrying out Japanese libraries projects. The association has three types of members: individual members (2,769 as of March 2022), institutional members (about 2,158), and supporting members (48). For professional activities, this organization consists of six divisions: the Public Library Division, the University Library Division, the Junior College Library and Technical College Division, the School Library Division, the Special Library Division, and the Library and Information Science Education Division.
Japan School Library Association (SLA) / 全国学校図書館協議会
The Association conducts various activities to enhance and develop school libraries and promote reading for youth in cooperation with school library research groups in each prefecture (SLAs in each prefecture).
Japan Association of National University Libraries / 国立大学図書館協会
Japan Association of National University Libraries (JANUL) is a membership organization comprising libraries of national universities in Japan, the Open University of Japan , library facilities of five inter-university research institutes, totalling 92 libraries and library facilities. JANUL aims at supporting the advancement of library function through close coordination and cooperation among the members, promoting inter-library use of scholarly information resources extensively, and contributing development of infrastructures for scholarly information distribution in order to help universities achieve their missions.
Japan Association of Private University Libraries / 私立大学図書館協会
In order to pursue the improvement and the development of university libraries, the Japan Association of Private University Libraries is engaged in various activities in the following fields: investigation, research, seminars, lectures, publication, international cooperation, and so on. As of 2020, 523 private university libraries (approximately 90% of Japan’s total number) belonged to the Association.
National Library
National Diet Library (NDL) / 国立国会図書館
The National Diet Library (NDL) is the national library of Japan, established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the National Diet of Japan (the national legislature of Japan) in researching matters of public policy. The NDL consists of two main facilities in Tokyo and Kyoto, and several other branch libraries throughout Japan.
As Japan’s national library, the NDL serves as the legal deposit library and collects copies of all publications published in Japan. It serves as a research library for the National Diet members, their staff, and the general public.
The NDL’s roles include:
- Supporting the National Diet,
- Acquiring, cataloguing, preserving materials and information,
- Providing access to information services,
- Cooperation with affiliated institutions.
Policy Making Institutions
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) / 文部科学省
The Ministry is responsible for the development of related laws and regulations, compilation of library-related proposals, and implementation of various surveys and studies, including the promotion of children’s reading activities.
Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan / 文化庁
The Agency has a responsibility for copyright law.
Library Support Organisations
National Institute of Informatics (NII) / 国立情報学研究所
As Japan’s only general academic research institution seeking to create future value in the new discipline of informatics, the National Institute of Informatics (NII) seeks to advance integrated research and development activities in information-related fields, including networking, software, and content. These activities range from theoretical and methodological work through applications. As an inter-university research institute, NII promotes the creation of a state-of-the-art academic-information infrastructure (the Cyber Science Infrastructure, or CSI) that is essential to research and education within the broader academic community, with a focus on partnerships and other joint efforts with universities and research institutions throughout Japan, as well as industries and civilian organizations.
National Policy for Libraries
The Vision of Libraries in the Future: Aiming to be Information Hubs Supporting Local Communities (Report) / これからの図書館像－地域を支える情報拠点をめざして－（報告）
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) promotes libraries by publishing proposals such as “The Vision for Libraries in the Future”(2006) and formulating standards such as “Desirable Standards for the Establishment and Operation of Libraries”(2012).
Library Law
Library Law (1950)
Last amended in 2019, the law mainly covers the operation of public libraries in Japan.
National Diet Library Law (1948)
Last amended in 2022, the law covers the operation of the National Diet Library of Japan.
Legal Deposit Law
National Diet Library Law (1948)
The legal deposit system in Japan was established in 1948, that the publishers shall furnish the domestic publications to the National Diet Library (NDL). Up to this time, the main objects of the legal deposit system have been non-electronic publications (i.e., books, serials, maps, and so on). Now, by the amendment of the NDL Law, off-line electronic publications will be the objects of the legal deposit system. And the number of copies of government publications shall furnish to the NDL will be also revised.
The stated goal of legal deposit is to ‘contribute to the accumulation and utility of cultural goods’.
The legal deposit system mandates that copies of all new publications published in Japan must be sent to the National Diet Library (NDL) in accordance with the National Diet Library Law, within 30 days of publication.
The applicable “publications” include books, pamphlets, serial publications, musical scores, maps, and phonographic records and so on. There is also eLegal deposit in place, with an indication that the NDL needs to pay for ePublications.
A prescribed number of copies of the publications of any government agency must be sent immediately to the NDL for its official use and for its use in international exchange. The same applies to the publications of local governments.
As set out in the copyright law, the NDL can give access to such materials to registered members, as well as others on demand.
Copyright Law & Library Exceptions and Limitations
Copyright Law of Japan (1970)
Last amended in 2021. The Publishing Ordinance of 1869 was the first in Japan to provide for copyright protection. The Publishing Ordinance gave publishers a “monopoly” on books, but its content was more focused on controlling publication. In 1899, along with joining the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Berne Convention), the Copyright Law was established. The current copyright law was enacted in 1970 by completely revising the old copyright law.
Exceptions and limitations for libraries
Japanese copyright law includes possibilities for library copying to support research and study, preservation, and supply of works to other libraries that cannot easily be obtained commercially. There are also possibilities to give electronic access to materials on request, with users then able to use these works in any way necessary to carry out research or study, although there are rules here around compensation, extent of materials shared, and requirements for safeguards. The National Diet Library has broader possibilities to give digital access to works which are fragile or otherwise at risk.
There are specific provisions about the National Diet Library (NDL) and rare and out-of-print works, and orphan works. In the first case, there are provisions allowing for the sharing of digitised copies of such works to other libraries, as well as to registered users of the NDL. Rightsholders can come forwards to opt their works out of such activities.
On orphan works, there are possibilities to give wider access to these, but this requires a ‘considerable’ effort on the part of the library to identify and locate rightsholders and the payment of a licence fee.
There are provisions allowing for the creation and sharing of accessible format works for people with print and aural disabilities, although only when there is no appropriate copy already commercially available.
Finally, there is the possibility for the National Diet Library to harvest web content, alongside eLegal Deposit, and provide access to this for registered users, or those who request it.
Outside of library-specific provisions, there are also rules around personal copying, text-and-data mining (in the context of a provision enabling uses of works that don’t have the purpose of enjoying the work), quotation, use in producing textbooks, school copying, educational broadcasting.
Professional Qualification Requirements
Professional Qualification Requirements
There are professional qualification requirements for position of a professional public librarian (Shisho) and a teacher librarian (Shisho Kyoyu).
Professional public librarian (Shisho):
- University (including junior college) graduates who take courses (Shisho Katei) required for librarian certification at a university (including junior college);
- Graduates of universities (including junior colleges) or technical colleges complete a short course in librarianship (Shisho Koshu);
- Those who have worked as an assistant librarian for 3 years or more may complete a course for librarianship and become qualified.
Teacher librarian (Shisho Kyoyu):
- Graduates of universities, who has teaching staff license, complete a short course in school librarianship (Shisho Kyoyu Koshu).
Education
Education
In the academic year 2022, there were 193 universities offering librarian training courses consisting of more than 13 subjects. This includes 152 universities offering four-year programme and 41 junior colleges. During summer time between July and September, 5 universities offer short courses for librarians’ training.
According to the 2005 LIPER project, Library and Information Science Education Curriculum in Universities consist of eight core areas – Library and Information Science Fundamentals, Information Users, Information Resources Organization, Information Media, Information Services, Information Systems, Business Management, and Digital Information. Education in these core areas is available at the undergraduate level, and then further studying in individual information fields and information professional fields are available at the graduate level.
Professional Publications
Library Yearbook
JLA issues Library Yearbook annually. It consists of two chapters: “Library Overview”, which provides an overview of trends in the library world by prefecture, type of library, and problem, and “Library Statistics and Materials,” which includes library-related statistics and materials and bibliographies.
Library Journal
Library Magazine is the journal of the Japan Library Association, first published in 1907, published monthly, and contains various topics around library world.
Libraries Today
JLA Issues Libraries Today and publish articles that contribute to the development of libraries based on the practical issues faced by libraries and information institutions.
Professional Events
Library Memorial Day
On 30 April 1950, the “Library Law” was promulgated. Based on the spirit of social education, the purpose of the “Library Law” is to establish necessary matters concerning the establishment and operation of public libraries, to promote their sound development, and thereby to contribute to the development of education and culture of the people. This law clarified the function of public libraries as a service, made them free of charge in principle, and ushered in an era of truly modern public libraries in Japan. In 1971, “Library Memorial Day” was decided at the National Library Convention, and since the following year 1972, the Japan Library Association has been implementing it.
All-Japan Library Conference
Japan Library Association (JLA) holds the “All-Japan Library Conference” for all librarians since 1906. In October 2022, JLA held the 108th conference in Gunma Prefecture.