National Diet Library: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|National library in Japan}}

[[Category:National libraries]]

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

Established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the [[Diet of Japan]]/[[National Diet of Japan]] (国会: Kokkai) in researching matters of public policy, the '''National Diet Library''' (国立国会図書館; Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan) is the only [[national library]] in [[Japan]]. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the U.S. [[Library of Congress]].

{{Infobox library

| native_name = {{lang|ja|国立国会図書館}}<br /> (Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan)

| name = National Diet Library (NDL)

| logo = National_Diet_Library_Logo.png

| image = National diet library 2009.jpg

| caption = Tokyo Main Library of the National Diet Library

| country = Japan

| type = National Library, Parliamentary Library

| scope =

| established = {{Start date and age|1948|paren=yes}}

| ref_legal_mandate = National Diet Library Law

| ___location = [[Tokyo]] and [[Kyoto]]

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|40|42|N|139|44|39|E|region:JP-13_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}

| branch_of =

| num_branches = 27

| items_collected = Books, Journals, Newspapers, Electronic archives, Manuscripts, Official publications, Doctoral dissertations, Maps and Sheet music

| collection_size = 47,531,625 items (Key statistics of FY 2023)<ref name="numbers">{{Cite web |year=2017 |title=Statistics |url=http://ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/outline/numerically.html |access-date=9 September 2017 |website=National Diet Library |language=en |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707165315/http://ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/outline/numerically.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

| criteria = Publications issued in Japan, statutes and parliamentary documents, publications on Japan, reference material, material on science and technology, publications of international organizations and foreign governments, children's literature and related material, Asian works

| legal_deposit = legal deposit

| req_to_access = 18 years old and above for the Tokyo Main Library and the Kansai-kan

| annual_circulation =

| pop_served = Members of the Diet (722 as of Feb. 2009) and the general public.

| members =

| budget = JP¥20,163M (FY2008) (US$221M)

| director = {{ill|Motonobu Yoshinaga|ja|吉永元信}} (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://current.ndl.go.jp/e2263 |title=吉永元信国立国会図書館新館長インタビュー |date=2020-05-28 |accessdate=2023-08-17 |editor=関西館図書館協力課調査情報係 |website=カレントアウェアネス-E |publisher=国立国会図書館関西館図書館協力課 |lang=ja |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528161154/https://current.ndl.go.jp/e2263 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| num_employees = 908

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

[[File:National Library Kansai.jpg|thumb|Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library]]

The {{Nihongo|'''National Diet Library''' ('''NDL''')|国立国会図書館|Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan}} is the [[national library]] of [[Japan]] and among the [[List of largest libraries|largest libraries in the world]]. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the {{Nihongo|[[National Diet|National Diet of Japan]]|国会|Kokkai}} in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the United States [[Library of Congress]].

The National Diet Library consists of two main facilities in [[Tokyo]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]], and other branch libraries.

The National Diet Library (NDL) consists of two main facilities in [[Tokyo]] and [[Kyoto]], and several other branch libraries throughout Japan.

==History==

{{More citations needed section|date=August 2025}}

The National Diet Library is the successor of three separate libraries: the library of the [[House of Peers (Japan)|House of Peers]], the library of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]], both of which were established at the creation of Japan's [[National Diet|Imperial Diet]] in 1890; and the [[Imperial Library (Japan)|Imperial Library]], which had been established in 1872 under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|Ministry of Education]].

The Diet's power in pre-war Japan was limited, and its need for information was "correspondingly small." The original Diet libraries "never developed either the collections or the services which might have made them vital adjuncts of genuinely responsible legislative activity." Until Japan's defeat, moreover, the executive had controlled all political documents, depriving the people and the Diet of access to vital information. The [[Occupation of Japan|U.S. occupation]] forces under General [[Douglas MacArthur]] deemed reform of the Diet library system to be an important part of the democratization of Japan after its defeat in [[World War II]].

The National Diet Library (NDL) is the successor of three separate libraries, the library of the [[House of Peers]], the library of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]], both of which were established at the creation of Japan's [[Imperial Diet]] in 1890, and the [[Imperial Library]], which had been established in 1872 under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Education]].

In 1946, each house of the Diet formed its own National Diet Library Standing Committee. [[Hani Gorō]], a [[Marxist]] historian who had been imprisoned during the war for thought crimes and had been elected to the [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councillors]] (the successor to the abolished House of Peers) after the war, spearheaded the reform efforts. Hani envisioned the new body as "both a 'citadel of popular sovereignty,'" and the means of realizing a "peaceful revolution." The Occupation officers responsible for overseeing library reforms reported that, although the Occupation was a catalyst for change, local initiative pre-existed the Occupation, and the successful reforms were due to dedicated Japanese like Hani.

In 1946, after Japan's defeat in [[World War Two]], reform of the Diet library system became an official part of the American vision for democratizing Japan. According to an official report by the U.S. Occupation, the previous Diet library system had been inadequate: "Both Houses of the National Diet of Japan have had their separate libraries since 1890. But because the Diet, prior to 1946, had no final responsibilities, its requirements for exact and extensive information were correspondingly small. . . . The Diet libraries never developed either the collections or the services which might have made them vital adjuncts of genuinely responsible legislative activity." One American scholar argues, however, that Japanese progressives found precisely the opposite causal relationship: "It was precisely because the executive branch controlled access to crucial documentary information that the legislature was rendered powerless. With this assessment, progressives on the Japanese side underscored the conflict and contention that marked the prewar political process as well as the mechanisms by which informed deliberation and dissent had been purposefully restricted and ultimately suppressed." Until Japan’s defeat, the government had assumed exclusive control of all political documents, depriving the people and the Diet itself of access to vital information. "'The true revolutionary significance of the NDL,'" therefore, was "that the Diet 'as the legislative organ of popular sovereignty would now exert control over any and all political documents relevant to the legislative function.'"

The National Diet Library opened in June 1948 in the present-day [[Akasaka Palace|State Guest-House]] (former Akasaka Detached Palace) with an initial collection of 100,000 volumes. The first Librarian of the Diet Library was the politician [[Tokujirō Kanamori]].<ref name="NDL">{{Cite web |title=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan Shōshi |script-title=ja:国立国会図書館小史 |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/aboutus/outline_history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116223026/http://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/aboutus/outline_history.html |archive-date=16 January 2011 |access-date=13 January 2011 |publisher="Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja}}</ref> The philosopher [[Masakazu Nakai]] served as the first Vice Librarian.<ref name="NDL" /> In 1949, the NDL merged with the National Library (previously called the Imperial Library) and became the only national library in Japan. At this time the collection gained an additional million volumes previously housed in the former National Library in [[Ueno, Tokyo|Ueno]].

In 1946, National Diet Library Standing Committees were newly formed in each house of the Diet. Hani Gorô, a Marxist historian who had been imprisoned during the war for thought crimes and had been elected to the House of Councillors after the war, spearheaded the reform effort. "For Hani, the National Diet Library would serve as the instrument by which 'the tyranny over knowledge, on which all tyranny is based' is wrested from the hands of the bureaucracy and monopoly capital. It was to be both a 'citadel of popular sovereignty,” and the means of realizing a “peaceful revolution.'" The Occupation officers responsible for overseeing the reform of the Diet library system would report to General [[Douglas MacArthur]] that, although the Occupation served as a catalyst for reform, the initiative existed in Japan before the Occupation began, and the success of the reform was due entirely to the efforts of the Japanese politicians and bureaucrats responsible.

In 19471961, the SpeakerNDL ofopened theat Houseits ofpresent Representatives___location<ref>This andwas the Presidentground of the [[HouseGerman ofEmbassy Councillors]]since (the successorMeiji toperiod. theIt abolishedwas Houseconfiscated ofin Peers),1945 invitedand anot commissiongiven ofback.</ref> librariansin from[[Nagatachō, the UnitedTokyo|Nagatachō]], Statesadjacent to assist inthe establishing a new library of theNational Diet. In 19481986, Occupation officials drafted the NationalNDL's DietAnnex Librarywas Law,completed establishingto theaccommodate NDL,a whichcombined wastotal translatedof into12 Japanesemillion books and enacted by the Dietperiodicals. The new[[#The NationalKansai-Kan|Kansai-kan]] Diet(the [[Kansai]] Library), which opened in JuneOctober 19482002 in the present-day [[StateKansai Guest-HouseScience City]] (former[[Seika, AkasakaKyoto|Seika]] DetachedTown, Palace)[[Sōraku withDistrict, anKyoto|Sōraku initialCounty]], [[Kyoto Prefecture]]), has a collection of 100,0006 million volumesitems. In 1949May 2002, the NDL mergedopened witha thenew National Library (renamed frombranch, the Imperial[[International Library inof 1947)Children's andLiterature]], becamein the onlyformer nationalbuilding libraryof inthe Japan.Imperial InLibrary thisin timeUeno. an additionalThis onebranch millioncontains volumessome housed400,000 initems theof formerchildren's Nationalliterature Libraryfrom in [[Ueno]] was added toaround the collectionworld.

Though the NDL's original mandate was to be a research library for the National Diet, the general public is the largest consumer of the library's services. In the fiscal year ending March 2004, for example, the library reported more than 250,000 reference inquiries; in contrast, it recorded only 32,000 requests for research from the National Diet.

In 1961, the NDL opened at its present present ___location in [[Nagatacho]], adjacent to the National Diet. The current building was completed in 1968. In 1986, the NDL's Annex was completed to accommodate a combined total of 12 million books and periodicals. In October 2002, a second NDL facility, the [[#The Kansai-Kan|Kansai-kan]] (the [[Kansai]] Library), was opened in October 2002 in the [[Kansai Science City]] ([[Seika, Kyoto|Seika]] Town, [[Soraku District, Kyoto|Soraku County]], [[Kyoto Prefecture]]), and has a collection of 6 million items. In May 2002, the NDL opened new branch, the [[International Library of Children's Literature]], in the former building of the Imperial Library in Ueno. This branch contains some 400,000 items of children's literature from around the world.

In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic]], the NDL suspended library services to the public on March 5, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Urgent Notice of Temporary Closure from March 5 to March 16｜National Diet Library|url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2019/200304_01.html|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.ndl.go.jp|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427115713/https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2019/200304_01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The NDL reopened to the public on June 11, 2020, with a maximum of 200 visitors per day based on a lottery-style drawing, with prospective visitors being required to register beforehand for a chance to be selected.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reopening of National Diet Library Facilities (Update: June 12) ｜National Diet Library|url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2020/200527_01.html|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.ndl.go.jp|archive-date=June 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623185529/https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2020/200527_01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 22 2023, this restriction was lifted. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Elimination of Entry Restrictions |url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2023/230622_01.html|access-date=2023-09-21}}</ref>

Though the NDL's original mandate was to serve as a research library for the National Diet, the public at large is by far the largest consumer of the library's services. In the fiscal year ended March 2004, for example, the library reported more than 250,000 reference inquiries; in contrast, it recorded only 32,000 requests for research from the National Diet.

==MajorMain Collectionscollection==

[[Image:Japanese National Diet Library-2007.jpg|thumb|The National Diet Library]]

[[Image:National Diet Library Japan.jpg|thumb|Main building in Tokyo]]

As Japan's national library, the NDL collects copies of all publications published in Japan. Moreover, because the NDL serves as a [[research library]] for Diet members, their staffsstaff, and the general public, it maintains an extensive collection of materials published in foreign languages on a wide range of topics. The NDL organizes its collection in eight major categories, as follows:

==Important special collections==

The NDL also has eight major specialized collections: Modern Political and Constitutional History; Materials Concerning the Postwar Occupation of Japan; Laws and Preliminary Records; Science and Technology; Maps; Music; Foreign Books About Japan; and Rare Books.

===Modern Politicalpolitical and Constitutionalconstitutional Historyhistory===

The Modern Political and Constitutional History Collection comprises some 300,000 items related to Japan's political and legal modernization in the 19th century, including the original document archives of important Japanese statesmen from the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century like [[Itō Hirobumi]], [[Iwakura Tomomi]], [[Sanjō Sanetomi]], [[Mutsu Munemitsu]], [[Terauchi Masatake]], and other influential figures from the [[Meiji period|Meiji]] (1868–1912) and [[Taishō period|Taishō]] (1912–1926) periods.

===Materials concerning the postwar occupation of Japan===

The Modern Political and Constitutional History Collection comprises some 300,000 items related to Japan's political and legal modernization in the 19th century, including the original document archives of important Japanese statesmen from the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century like [[Ito Hirobumi]], [[Iwakura Tomomi]], [[Sanjo Sanetomi]], [[Mutsu Munemitsu]], [[Terauchi Masatake]], and other influential figures from the [[Meiji]] (1868-1912) and [[Taisho]] (1912-1926) Periods.

The NDL has an extensive microform collection of some 30 million pages of documents relating to the [[Occupation of Japan]] after World War II. This collection include the documents prepared by [[Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers|General Headquarters]] (GHQ) and the [[Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers]] (SCAP), the [[Far Eastern Commission]] (FEC), and the [[United States Strategic Bombing Survey Team]]. (The originals of these documents are in the possession of the United States [[National Archives]].)

===Materials Concerning the Postwar Occupation of Japan===

The NDL has an extensive microform collection of some 30 million pages of documents relating to the [[Occupation of Japan]] after World War II. This collection include the documents prepared by [[General Headquarters]] ([[GHQ]]) and the [[Supreme Commander for Allied Powers]] [[(SCAP)]], the [[Far Eastern Commission]] ([[FEC]]), and the [[United States Strategic Bombing Survey Team]]. (The originals of these documents are in the possession of the United States [[National Archives]].)

===Laws and Preliminary Records===

===Laws and preliminary records===

The Laws and Preliminary Records Collection consists of some 170,000 Japanese and 200,000 foreign-language documents concerning proceedings of the National Diet and the legislatures of some 70 foreign countries, and the official gazettes, statutes, judicial opinions, and international treaties pertaining to some 150 foreign countries.

===Science and technology===

===Science and Technology===

The NDL maintains a collection of some 530,000 books and booklets and 2 million microform titles relating to the sciences. These materials include, among other things, foreign doctoral dissertations in the sciences, the proceedings and reports of academic societies, catalogues of technical standards, etc.

===Maps===

The NDL has a collection of approximately 440,000 maps of Japan and other countries, including the topographical, geological, and hydrological maps and charts dating back to the early [[Meiji period]] (1868–1912) and topographical maps of foreign countries.

The NDL has a collection of approximately 440,000 maps of Japan and other countries, including the topographical, geological, and hydrological maps and charts dating back to the early [[Meiji Period]] (1868-1912) and topographical maps of foreign countries.

===Music===

The NDL collects all phonographic recordings made in Japan, and presently holds a collection comprising 300,000 vinyl records and 200,000 compact disks.

===Foreign books about Japan===

===Foreign Books on Japan===

Following the tradition established by the Imperial Library, the NDL collects foreign-language materials about Japan, including rare and ancient documents, such as reports of European missionaries visiting Japan in the 16th century.

===Rare books and old materials===

[[File:The Analects of Confucius WDL11844.pdf|thumb|''The Analects of Confucius'' in the collection of the National Diet Library has a back flyleaf with Nobukata's autograph provenance notes dated November of the 16th year of the [[Tenbun|Tenmon era]] (1547) and is clearly printed; therefore this seems to be a rare first edition. A sumptuous cover made of [[Nishijin-ori|Nishijin brocade]] was put on the book in the [[Edo period]].]]

The NDL houses the former Imperial Library's collection of Japanese language materials from the [[Edo period]] (1603–1867) and earlier periods. The major catalogues in this collection include: (1) some 6,000 documents relating to the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] (1603–1867), such as records of town magistrates, the shogunal Supreme Court, and the [[Jisha-bugyō]] (Commissioners of Shrines and Temples), as well as documents concerning the succession of ''[[shōgun]]s''; (2) the [[Itō Bunko]] and [[Shirai Bunko]], consisting of 8,000 handwritten and woodblock printed books dating from the Edo and Meiji periods and concerning Japanese medicine; and (3) the [[Shinjo Bunko]], consisting of 11,000 examples of pre-modern writings on astronomy and calendars, in addition to ancient Chinese works on the [[Qing dynasty]], genealogy, and local history.

===Rare Books and Old Materials===

== National Diet Library buildings ==

The NDL houses the former Imperial Library's collection of Japanese language materials from the [[Edo Period]] (1603-1867) and earlier periods. The major catalogues in this collection include:

<!-- name ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress#Library_of_Congress_buildings -->

===The Kansai-Kan===

{{main|Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library}}

Kansai-kan (Kansai Library), which opened in Kyoto Prefecture in 2002, is the second facility of the NDL.

The NDL has transferred the following collections to the Kansai-kan: most western periodicals; books and other materials in non-Japanese Asian languages; certain scientific and technological materials (technical reports, papers of foreign academic societies, catalogs of Japanese and foreign technical standards, foreign doctoral dissertations, and conference proceedings in Western languages); scientific research reports compiled under grants from the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]; Japanese doctoral dissertations; and books on tape.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/kansai/index.html |website=National Diet Library |access-date=September 27, 2005 |archive-date=August 30, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050830051005/http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/kansai/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Documents of the Tokugawa Shogunate=====

==National Diet Library online resources==

This catalogue consists of some 6,000 documents relating to the [[Tokugawa Shogunate]] (1603-1867), such as records of town magistrates, records of the shogunal Supreme Court, records of the [[Commissioners of Shrines and Temples]], and documents concerning the succession of [[shoguns]].

The National Diet Library has in recent years compiled a detailed website in both Japanese <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/|title=国立国会図書館―National Diet Library|website=www.ndl.go.jp|access-date=April 27, 2021|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427045408/https://ndl.go.jp/|url-status=live}}</ref> and English.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/|title=National Diet Library|website=www.ndl.go.jp|access-date=April 27, 2021|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505070538/https://ndl.go.jp/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its online databases consist of the National Diet Library Online Public Access Catalog (NDL-OPAC), National Diet Library Digital Collections and the Minutes of the Imperial Diet and National Diet.

===National Diet Library Online Public Access Catalog (NDL-OPAC)===

The NDL provides an Online Public Access Catalog ([[OPAC]]), by which users can search the NDL's entire collection from anywhere in the world in either English<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Diet Library Online Public Access Catalog |url=http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index_e.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20091211015702/http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index_e.html |archive-date=2009-12-11 |access-date=2009-12-11 |website=National Diet Library}}</ref> or Japanese.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kokuritsu Kokkaitoshokan Zōsho Kensaku Mōshikomi Shisutemu |script-title=ja:国立国会図書館 蔵書検索・申込システム |trans-title=National Diet Library Collection Search/Application System |url=http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021002060819/http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index.html |archive-date=2002-10-02 |access-date=2002-10-02 |publisher=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja}}</ref> Using OPAC to identify sources and catalog numbers, overseas users may obtain certain materials from the NDL through [[interlibrary loan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Loan Service |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_loan.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119165445/http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_loan.html |archive-date=2005-11-19 |access-date=2005-09-27 |website=National Diet Library}}</ref> In addition, the NDL provides a fee-based reproduction service for scholars residing overseas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Photoduplication Service |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_copy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114144736/http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_copy.html |archive-date=2005-11-14 |access-date=2005-09-27 |website=National Diet Library}}</ref> As of June 2017 NDL-OPAC is planned to end at the end of December 2017 and new online services will be launched.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NDL to Implement a New Search System in January 2018 |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/2018renewal/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213201212/http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/2018renewal/index.html |archive-date=2017-12-13 |access-date=2017-12-13 |publisher=National Diet Library |language=en}}</ref>

=== National Diet Library Digital Collections ===

=====The Ito Bunko and Shirai Bunko=====

NDL Digital Collections provinces various online materials such as rare books, audio-visual materials and the materials whose copyrights has expired. The contents consisting of Digital Library from the Meiji Era and Rare Books Image Database (to be mentioned later) are now availablable on NDL Digital Collections. NDL Digitalized Contents was renamed to be NDL Digital Collections in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the National Diet Library Digital Collections |url=http://dl.ndl.go.jp/en/intro.html |access-date=2017-12-13 |publisher=National Diet Library |language=en |archive-date=April 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428140659/http://dl.ndl.go.jp/en/intro.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NDLDC_History">{{Cite web |title=Kokuritsu Kokkaitoshokan Dejitaru Korekushon no Ayumi |script-title=ja:国立国会図書館デジタルコレクションの歩み |trans-title=History of the National Diet Library Digital Collection |url=http://dl.ndl.go.jp/ja/history.html |access-date=2017-12-13 |publisher=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213143920/http://dl.ndl.go.jp/ja/history.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 8,000 items in these two collections consist of handwritten and woodblock printed books dating from the Edo and Meiji Periods and concerning Japanese medicine.

=====The Shinjo Bunko=====

The 11,000 items in this catalogue concern pre-modern writings on astronomy and calendars, in addition to ancient Chinese works relating to the [[Qing Dynasty]], genealogy, and local history.

==The Kansai-Kan==

Kansai-kan (Kansai Library) is the second facility of the NDL in Kyoto Prefecture, opend in 2002.

The NDL has transferred the following collections to the Kansai-kan : most western perdiocals; books and other materials in non-Japanese Asian languages; certain scientific and technological materials (technical reports, papers of foreign academic societies, catalogs of Japanese and foreign technical standards, foreign doctoral dissertations, and conference proceedings in Western languages); scientific research reports compiled under grants from the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]; Japanese doctoral dissertations; and books on tape.[http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/kansai/index.html]

==National Diet Library Online Resources==

The National Diet Library has in recent years compiled a detailed website in both Japanese [http://www.ndl.go.jp] and English [http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/]. This database is an important resource for students of Japan residing in foreign countries.

===Digital Library from the Meiji Era===

{{Main|ja:近代デジタルライブラリー}}

One of the most important features of the NDL's website is the {{Nihongo|Digital Library of the Meiji Era (official English name, not a direct translation; Japanese name is |近代デジタルライブラリー (|Kindai dejitaru raiburari))[raiburarii|lit. Recent Age Digital Library}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collection of the Electronic Library |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/data/endl.html] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013070435/http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/data/endl.html |archive-date=2005-10-13 This|access-date=2005-10-13 online|website=National libraryDiet containsLibrary |language=en}}</ref> The Digital Library is the digital imagesdescendant of approximatelythe 60[[Maruzen Meiji Microfilm]],000 itemsthe datingproduct fromof an ambitious project to microfilm the NDL's entire collection of Meiji Periodera books, a collection of some 60,000 volumes. The digital collectionlibrary iscontains actual images of these works, which are divided into ten main categories based on [[Nippon Decimal Classification]] (NDC) : {{Nihongo|(0) general (|総記: soki)|sōki}}; {{Nihongo|(1) philosophy (|哲学: |tetsugaku)}}; {{Nihongo|(2) history (|歴史: |rekishi)}}; {{Nihongo|(3) social sciences (|社会科学: |shakai kagaku)}}; {{Nihongo|(4) natural sciences (|自然科学: |shizen kagaku)}}; {{Nihongo|(5) engineering and manufacturing (|工学・工業 kogaku|kōgaku/kogyo)kōgyō}}; {{Nihongo|(6) industry (|産業: sangyo)|sangyō}}; {{Nihongo|(7) arts and athletics (|芸術・体育: |geijutsu/tai-iku)taiiku}}; {{Nihongo|(8) language (|語学: |gogaku)}}; and {{Nihongo|(9) literature (|文学: |bungaku)}}. The images are not coded, so text searches are not possible; however, Japanese-language searches infor the title, author, publisher, subject, and table of contents of the works in the database are possible. Meiji period periodicals are not included in this collection. Digital Library from the Meiji Era was merged into NDL Digital Collections in 2015.<ref name=NDLDC_History />

In order to access the images in the NDL's digital libraries, the user must download the NDL's image viewer, available here [http://www.kindai.ndl.go.jp/img/download.html]. Users can download and print images they view on the NDL's website from any computer.

===Rare Books Image Database===

The NDL's website also contains the {{Nihongo|Rare Books Image Database|貴重書画像データベース|kichōsho gazō dētabēsu}} a collection of digital images from 37,000 illustrated books published before the Edo Period. Japanese-language searches by title, author, and call-number are possible in this database.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kichō-sho Gazō Dētabēsu |script-title=ja:貴重書画像データベース |trans-title=Rare book image database |url=http://rarebook.ndl.go.jp/pre/servlet/pre_com_menu.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050831222030/http://rarebook.ndl.go.jp/pre/servlet/pre_com_menu.jsp |archive-date=2005-08-31 |access-date=2005-09-27 |publisher=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja}}</ref> Rare Books Image Database was integrated into NDL Digitalized Contents (now NDL Digital Collections) in 2012.<ref name=NDLDC_History />

The NDL's website also contains the Rare Books Image Database (貴重書画像データベース：kichosho gazo detabesu), a collection of digital images from 37,000 illustrated books published before the Edo Period. Japanese-language searches by title, author, and call-number are possible in this database. [http://rarebook.ndl.go.jp/pre/servlet/pre_com_menu.jsp]

===Minutes of the Imperial Diet and National Diet===

The NDL provides a database of the minutes of both the Imperial Diet and the National Diet, the only one of the NDL's online database that is full-text searchable. All minutes from the National Diet's inception in May 1947 through the present are searchable online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kokkai Kaigiroku Kensaku Shisutemu |script-title=ja:国会会議録検索システム |trans-title=Parliamentary Minutes Search System |url=http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/ |publisher=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja |access-date=September 27, 2005 |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122235741/http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At present, only minutes from the last two (91st and 92nd) sessions of the Imperial Diet (November 1946 through May 1947) are available.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teikoku Gikai Kaigiroku Kensaku Shisutemu |script-title=ja:帝国議会会議録検索システム |trans-title=Imperial Diet Minutes Search System |url=http://teikokugikai-i.ndl.go.jp/ |publisher=Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan" 国立国会図書館 [National Diet Library] |language=ja |access-date=September 27, 2005 |archive-date=April 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402230355/http://teikokugikai-i.ndl.go.jp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Japan Search===

The NDL provides a searchable database of the minutes of both the Imperial Diet and the National Diet. All minutes from the National Diet's inception in May 1947 through the present are searchable online [http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/]. At present, only minutes from the last two (91st and 92nd) sessions of the Imperial Diet (November 1946 through May 1947) are available [http://teikokugikai-i.ndl.go.jp/].

{{ill|Japan Search|ja|ジャパンサーチ}} is a [[web portal]] launched on 25 August 2020 and operated by the NDL for integrated searches across multiple databases hosted by the various partner organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/news/fy2020/200825_02.html |title=2020-8-25 The Launch of Japan Search |publisher=National Diet Library |access-date=20 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lib.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/library/contents/database/138 |title=JAPAN SEARCH |publisher=[[University of Tokyo Library|University of Tokyo Library System]] |access-date=20 November 2023}}</ref> As of March 2023, the service worked with 38 [[Data aggregation|aggregators]] and drew on over 28 million items of data from 198 [[database]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jpsearch.go.jp/arfy2022 |title=Report on Japan Search Activities in FY2022 |publisher=Japan Search |access-date=20 November 2023}}</ref>

== Standards ==

<!-- name ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress#Standards -->

===National Diet Library Online Public Access Catalog (NDL-OPAC)===

In addition to its library services, the organization is also involved in standard activities in areas related to bibliographical and search and retrieve standards. Areas of work include , National Diet Library Dublin Core Metadata Description (DC-NDL),<ref>{{cite web

The NDL provides an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), by which users can search the NDL's entire collection from anywhere in the world in either English [http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index_e.html]or Japanese [http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index.html]. Using OPAC to identify sources and catalog numbers, overseas users may obtain certain materials from the NDL through [[interlibrary loan]].[http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_loan.html] In addition, the NDL provides a fee-based reproduction service for scholars residing overseas. [http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_copy.html]

| author = <!-- Unspecified by source. -->

| date = <!-- Unspecified by source. -->

| title = National Diet Library Dublin Core Metadata Description (DC-NDL)

| work = National Diet Library

| publisher = <!-- work = publisher -->

| url = https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/dlib/standards/meta/index.html

| access-date = 2022-04-01

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210715124552/https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/dlib/standards/meta/index.html

| archive-date = 2021-07-15

| url-status = live

}}</ref> and National Diet Library Linked Open Data (NDL LOD).<ref>{{cite web

| author = <!-- Unspecified by source. -->

| date = <!-- Unspecified by source. -->

| title = (National Diet Library) Linked Open Data (LOD)

| work = National Diet Library

| publisher = <!-- work = publisher -->

| url = https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/dlib/standards/lod/index.html

| access-date = 2022-04-01

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210715124552/https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/dlib/standards/meta/index.html

| archive-date = 2021-07-15

| url-status = live

}}</ref>

==See also==

Users should note that the OPAC is offline for regular maintenance between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Tokyo time) Tuesdays through Sundays, between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Tokyo time) on the first, second, and fourth Mondays of the month, and between 10:00 p.m. Sunday night through 7:00 a.m. Monday morning on the 3rd Monday of each month.

* [[Authority control]]

* [[List of academic databases and search engines]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Sources==

* This article is based on information obtained from the National Diet Library website. The section on the formation of the NDL under the U.S. Occupation forces relies heavily on Leslie Pincus, "Revolution in the Archives of Memory: The Founding of the National Diet Library in Occupied Japan" in Francis X. Blouin and William G. Rosenberg, eds., ''Archives, Documentation, and Institutions of Social Memory: Essays from the Sawyer Seminar'' (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006).

*Kim, Chin (1969). "A New National Library: The National Diet Library of Japan". ''The Journal of Library History.'' University of Texas Press. 4 (3): 225–238.

==External links==

This article is based on information obtained from the National Diet Library website. The section on the formation of the NDL under the U.S. Occupation forces relies heavily on Leslie Pincus' unpublished paper, "Revolution in the Archives of Memory: The Founding of the National Diet Library in Occupied Japan" (Department of History, University of Michigan).

{{Commons category|National Diet Library}}

{{Wikidata property|P349|P1054|P2687|P9836}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.ndl.go.jp NDL Japanese{{Official website]}}

* [httphttps://wwwndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/ NDL English websiteSearch]

* [httphttps://wwwdl.ndl.go.jp/en/service/kansai/index.html Kansai-kanNDL of the NDLDigital (English)Collections]

* [httphttps://wwwid.ndl.go.jp/enauth/data/endl.html Digital Library from the Meiji Erandla (EnglishWeb summaryNDL only)Authorities]

* [http://kindai.ndl.go.jp/ Digital Library from the Meiji Era (Japanese)]

* [http://rarebook.ndl.go.jp/pre/servlet/pre_com_menu.jsp Rare Books Image Database (Japanese)]

* [http://www.kindai.ndl.go.jp/img/download.html NDL image viewer].

* [http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index.html NDL-OPAC Japanese Index]

* [http://opac.ndl.go.jp/index_e.html NDL-OPAC English Index]

* [http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/ Database of National Diet Minutes (Japanese)]

* [http://teikokugikai-i.ndl.go.jp/ Database of Imperial Diet Minutes (Japanese)]

* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_loan.html NDL Interlibrary Loan Application Procedures]

* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/service/oversea/data_copy.html NDL Photoreproduction Service]

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{{Link FA|ja}}

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{{Legislative libraries}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Libraries1948 establishments in Japan]]

[[Category:TokyoDeposit libraries]]

[[Category:Education in Kyoto]]

[[Category:Government agencies established in 1948]]

[[Category:Government of Japan]]

[[Category:Legislative libraries|Japan]]

[[Category:Libraries established in 1948]]

[[Category:Libraries in Tokyo]]

[[Category:National libraries|Japan]]

[[Category:World Digital Library partners]]