The NDL is actively proceeding with a microfilming programme as a method for preserving valuable materials and assuring future access to them. Materials targeted for microfilming are those collections in an advanced state of deterioration that are deemed to be in need of immediate preservation action. Microfilming is also used as a collection method for materials not held by the NDL but in the collections of other institutions.

I. Annual programme (Microfilm implementation plan)

The Preservation Planning Office is responsible for ensuring effective financial management of the Library's microfilming projects by centralizing requests from departments that preserve library materials and formulating an annual microfilming plan.

  Collections given priority for microfilming are as follows:

(1) Valuable materials not found anywhere else - rare and old materials, maps, documents on modern political and constitutional history

(2) Materials suffering noticeable deterioration as a result of acid paper - books published in the Meiji (1868 - 1912), Taisho (1912 - 1926) and early Showa (1926 to March 1949) periods

(3) Materials that are at risk or heavily used - newspapers and magazines published in Japan since the Meiji period; books published just before and after World War II

(4) Materials not held by the NDL - laws and ordinances of the early Meiji period, materials on the postwar Occupation of Japan by the Allied Powers, etc.

 The overall rate of progress cannot be described as adequate because of budget restriction.

II. Special Projects (being carried out independently of the aforementioned annual programme)

(a) Microfilming of current newspapers

 The NDL began microfilming of newspapers since 1951 in order to preserve the originals from damage caused by use. Subsequently, under an agreement with the NSK (Nihon Shinbun Kyokai; now the Japan Newspaper Foundation for Education and Culture), the NDL is supplied with optimal copies of newspaper printed by member newspaper companies of the NSK. At present, the combined number of newspapers at both the national and regional level is 58, and a total of 700,000 frames are filmed each year. The master negative films are donated to the NDL; as a rule, the original newspapers are not used, but positive film is made available instead. The negative film is stored in appropriate environment in the microfilm storage on the seventh basement of the NDL's Annex building.

(b) Microfilming of Meiji era book collection

As everybody knows, all the libraries in the world are facing the common danger of deterioration of library materials. In particular, the threat of acid paper requires urgent effort for preservation of library materials. Repeated access to books also hastens their deterioration. Especially libraries which assume the role of a depositary library such as the NDL have suffered from the problem of how to satisfy users' demands without causing damage to materials.
  Media conversion such as microforming of materials is one efficient way of solving the problem: Microforming will make it possible to preserve original copies in safety, while scholars, researchers and other users can have access to the materials in microform even from outside the Library. It is from this perspective that the microfilming of the NDL's collection of the Meiji era was projected.
  The Meiji era (1868 - 1912) is the starting point of Japan's modernization, and it was in this era that the foundations of the present development of Japan were laid. During a period of some 40 years around the turn of the century, Japan experienced very rapid changes in all fields-political, economic, social and cultural. The number of books published in the Meiji era, excluding periodicals, is estimated at some 220,000 volumes, 75 percent of which are held by the NDL. Reflecting the importance of the age in Japan's history, these publications are deemed an invaluable cultural heritage and an indispensable historical resource. Therefore, it is our duty to preserve and transmit them to future generations.
  But it was not an easy job to microfilm about 34 million pages of 160,000 volumes of deteriorating books. Because of its limited budget and restrictive accounting system, the NDL could not have afforded this costly and time consuming project. Most fortunately for the Library, however, Maruzen Ltd., one of Japan's oldest and largest bookstores/publishers, decided to undertake the huge project in commemoration of its 120th anniversary. The Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. also offered technical assistance.
  The project, started in September 1989, required not only advanced technology but also precision work. A total of 130 men using 30 cameras of high efficiency were employed. Work went on every day. Consequently, this major project came to an end in June 1991, much earlier than expected.
  The price of a complete set of the microfilms, purchasable from Maruzen Ltd., is ¥ 180,000,000. It is possible to obtain microfilm sets of 24 different subjects separately. For details, please apply to Maruzen. (NDL Newsletter. No. 87, 1992)
  Filming was completed in March 1991; the transfer to microfiche was begun the following year (1992) and completed in 1996.
  In principle, only microfiche copies are available for in-house use and interlibrary loan.

(c) Microfilming of prewar Japanese newspapers; project completed

  Newspapers published in Japan in this period are undergoing noticeable deterioration for a variety of reasons, including technological limitations at the time of their publication, frequent use by readers and/or frequent photoduplication, and the inappropriate storage environment. Microfilming of prewar newspapers that had not previously been filmed was completed in FY1998. This brings to completion the microfilming of the 321 newspapers in the NDL's collection that were published in Japan before the war.

Details of the project
* Target - 198 newspapers
* Target period - 1868-1944
* Total number of volumes - 2,513
* Film produced - master negative film and positive film, 1863 reels respectively
* Use conditions - microfilms available for use; no access to original newspapers

 
The next task will be microfilming of domestic newspapers published in the late 1940s and early 1950s, which likewise are noticeably deteriorating.

(d) Media transfer programme for books published in the early Showa period (1926 to March 1949)

  Books published in the Taisho and early Showa periods are rapidly deteriorating as in the case of materials published in the Meiji period. The NDL has made a microfilming and digitizing plan in cooperation with private companies. As the first stage of this project, nearly 58,000 volumes in the social science area, published in the early Showa period, are scheduled to be microfilmed between May 1999 and March 2000. Thereafter, they will be transferred to CD-ROM or DVD.
  After this, how to preserve books published between 1949 and 1965 (known as "a-kan") printed on paper of bad quality will be the next subject. Judging from the state of deterioration, preservation measures for them, including microfilming, must be immediately discussed.

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