CDNLAO Newsletter
No. 57, November 2006
- Definition of Rare Books
- About your library's rare books collection
- Managing Department of Rare Books Collection
- Terms of use of rare books collection
- Photocopy service of rare books collection
- Loan service of rare books
- Management of rare books collection
- Cataloging of rare books collection
- Training of rare books librarians
- Management of the reading room for your rare books collection
- Microfilming and digitization of rare books collection
1. Definition of Rare Books
1.1 How does your library define "rare books"? If there are different definitions according to the types of materials, please specify, e.g. Western materials, Islamic materials, Far Eastern materials, etc.
Rare books are defined by the Criteria for Rare Books Designation. Basically the NDL designates as rare books Japanese materials printed/hand-written during/before the Keicho period (1596-1615), Chinese materials printed during/before the Zhengde period of the Ming dynasty (1505-1521), and Western materials printed during/before the 16th century. Some books can be also designated as rare books for their rarity. Other books can be designated as semi-rare books which are to be treated in almost the same way as rare books.
1.2 How does your library authorize the designation of rare books based on the above definition? For example, does your library have a committee to designate rare books?
The Librarian of the NDL authorizes the designation of rare/semi-rare books, after the Committee on Designation of Rare Books, set up within the library, gives consideration to nominated books and makes recommendations with regard to which books should be designated as rare/semi-rare.
2. About your library's rare books collection
2.1 How many titles/volumes of rare books does your library hold? How many of them are Western, Islamic or Far Eastern, etc?
Rare books: 1,220 titles (1,022 titles of Japanese and Chinese books; 198 titles of Western books)
Semi-rare books: 782 titles (486 titles of Japanese and Chinese books, newspapers, and magazines; 296 titles of Western books)
2.2 Give some examples that are considered the most precious of your library's rare books collection.
The following items are designated as the nation's important cultural assets:
- 師守記 (Moromori-ki) by 中原師守 (Nakahara Moromori). 1339-74, 64 scrolls
- 銘尽 (Mei zukushi). Hand-copied in 1423, 1 volume
- 満斉准后記 (Mansai Jugo Nikki) by 満斉 (Mansai). 1411-22, 11 volumes
- 天台山記 (Tiantai shan ji) by 徐霊府 (Lingfu Xu, Tang Dynasty China). 11-12 c. 1 volume
- 姓解 (Xing jie) / by 邵思 (Si Shao, Sung Dynasty China). 1034-37, 3 volumes
For more information on the above items, see
http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/publication/ndl_newsletter/137/375.html
3. Managing Department of Rare Books Collection
3.1 Is there any section or reading room which is dedicated only to rare book collections?
No
How many seats are there in the reading room and what hours is it open?
The Rare Books and Old Materials Room has 14 seats and is open from 9:30 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday. (see 3.2)
3.2 What other collections are managed together with your rare books collection?
- Japanese materials published during/before the Edo period
- Chinese materials published during/before the Qing Dynasty
- Western materials published during/before the 1830s and acquired by NDL in/after 2002
3.3 Please give the name of the section and reading room which serve your rare books collection.
- Rare Books and Old Materials Division, Reference and Special Collections Department
- Rare Books and Old Materials Room
4. Terms of use of rare books collection
4.1 Do you prescreen applications to use the rare books collection?
Users need to submit an application form for permission to use and a form to reserve rare/semi-rare books on specific dates.
4.2 Are there any specific qualifications that you set up for users of your rare books collection, such as a doctoral degree?
No qualification required.
5. Photocopy service of rare books collection
5.1 How do you accept requests for photocopy of your rare books collection?
Only microfilming
5.2 How do you handle requests for color photocopy?
If there are color positive films of the materials, we recommend users to duplicate the films.
If there are no films, users are required to have the materials filmed by a professional photographer at their own expense and donate one copy of the positive film to the library.
6. Loan service of rare books
6.1 Do you loan out rare books?
No
6.2 Do you loan out rare books for exhibitions?
Yes
If yes, do you loan out rare books to overseas institutions for exhibitions?
No
7. Management of rare books collection
7.1 Are there stacks or storage spaces which only store rare books?
Yes
If yes, what are the differences of the rare books stacks from other stacks?
The floor, ceiling, and walls are covered in Hinoki (Japanese cypress). The book shelves are made of Nara (oak). Materials are stored horizontally on the shelves.
How large are the rare books stacks, and how many rare books can be stored in them?
260m²
About 22,000 volumes, 4,000 titles
8. Cataloging of rare books collection
8.1 Which section/unit of your library does the cataloging work for rare books?
The Rare Books and Old Materials Division does the cataloging, and it also manages the Rare Books and Old Materials Room.
8.2 Do you set any differences in cataloging rare books and other general books?
We give rare books a full-level description.
8.3 What formats of catalogs have been made for your rare books collections?
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
9. Training of rare books librarians
9.1 Do you have any training courses specifically targeted for rare books librarians?
Yes
9.2 If yes, who organizes the training courses?
For Japanese books, the NDL, in cooperation with the National Institute of Japanese Literature, provides training courses for librarians in Japan.
For Chinese and Western books, NDL staff members attend training courses organized by universities.
10. Management of the reading room for your rare books collection
10.1 Are there any tools or equipment that are provided for readers of rare books in the reading room?
Microfilm/fiche readers, book stands, PCs for viewing digital images and CDs
10.2 Are there any specific items that you prohibit users from bringing in or using in the reading room where the rare books collection is served? For example, ball point pens.
Yes
If yes, please specify
Fountain pens, ball point pens, PCs, mobile phones, drinks
11. Microfilming and digitization of rare books collection
11.1 Have you done microfilming of your rare books collection? If yes, what percentage of your rare books collection has been microfilmed?
About 70% (almost 100% of Japanese and Chinese books; no microfilming of Western books)
11.2 Have you done digitization of your rare books collection? If yes, what percentage of your rare books collection has been digitized?
Less than 10%
11.3 Have you created digital library collections? If yes, what percentage of your digital library collections is made of rare books?
Less than １%
11.4 If you have created a digital library specialized in your rare books collection, please give the name and URL.
Rare Books Image Database
Copyright (C)2006 National Diet Library
