The National Diet Library of Japan and its Plans for the 21st Century

Abstract

The National Diet Library (NDL), Japan's national library and parliamentary library, 50 years old in 1998, is tackling three major projects for the 21st century. The first is a new facility tentatively called the Kansai-kan, 500km away from Tokyo, to be opened in 2002. It will work in tandem with the present library in Tokyo and enable the NDL to cope with expanding collections. It will also be a centre for information supply services, Asian documentary information, library cooperation and R&D, taking advantage of its digital library functions. A second project is the International Library of Children's Literature, to be opened in 2000. The third undertaking comprises a number of digital library projects, which should be in full operation when the Kansai-kan opens. The NDL is now drawing up its digital library plan and carrying out several experimental projects, as well as taking part in international cooperation such as G8 projects.

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References

National Diet Library. International Symposium: National Libraries in the 21st Century. Tokyo: Japan Library Association. 1997. (text in English and Japanese).

Ministry of Construction. Entries in the architectural design competition for the Kansai-kan (provisional name) of the National Diet Library. Tokyo: Public Building Association, 1997. (text in English and Japanese).