National Diet Library

The National Diet Library (NDL) is currently combining its library services and online book catalogs into an integrated electronic system. In this system, users may register their names, addresses, etc. to use the NDL services more conveniently.

• User registration is valid for all NDL libraries: Tokyo Main Library, Kansai-kan, and International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL).We regret that the ILCL cannot accept applications from visitors.
• User registration is free of charge.
• There are two registration systems: one for individuals and the other for institutions

1.Copying Service by Postal Mail (only available when you know the exact portions of the materials that you wish to have copied)

If you are a registered user, you may request the copying service from your home and workplace via the Internet, without visiting the NDL in person.

• To have an item copied and mailed, look it up on the NDL-OPAC (National Diet Library Online Public Access Catalog) system from this website, choose "Copying Service by Mail", and specify the number of the volume or issue and the portion to be copied.
  Note: the English version of　the NDL-OPAC provides only search functions; request functions are available only in the Japanese version.
• You can order copies via the Internet only for the materials searchable on the NDL-OPAC.
• Items copied by this service are delivered only by postal mail.

2.Inter-Site Request

At the Tokyo Main library you can order materials held in the Kansai-kan to be sent to Tokyo for you to read in the Tokyo Main Library, or at the Kansai-kan you can order materials held in the Tokyo Main Library or the International Library of Children's Literature to be sent for you to read in the Kansai-kan. (We regret that at the ILCL you cannot request materials held in the Tokyo Main Library or the Kansai-kan.)

• Visit the library where you wish to read materials and apply for this service. Applying for this service via the Internet is not possible.
• Note: The materials are normally delivered in a minimum of three working days after the receipt of a request, but there could be a delay at peak times.
• The materials available for inter-site request are the following. Please note that some materials cannot be requested for reservation and other reasons.
  
  From Kansai-kan to the Tokyo Main Library: Western periodicals; materials in Asian languages; science and technology materials; reports under the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and Japanese doctoral dissertations.
  
  From the Tokyo Main Library to the Kansai-kan: Japanese books, Western books, Western periodicals (part), special materials (part), and materials held in the International Library of Children's Literature (part).

3.Reservation of Library Materials for Reading On-Site (only available at the Kansai-kan for the materials held in the Kansai-kan)

At the Kansai-kan, you can reserve in advance materials held by the library and claim them on the day of your visit without request procedures.

• Before visiting the library, you can reserve library materials via the Internet.
• At the library, you can reserve materials you wish to read on your next visit through the online catalog.

4.Simplified Entry Procedures except the ILCL

Registered users can have their user card issued by simply inserting their registered-user card into the User Card Issuing Machine and inputting their password. (Non-registered users must input their name, address, etc., to have their user card issued.)

• The password is not shown on the registered user card. Please be sure to remember your password when visiting the NDL.
• You can enter the ILCL without any entry procedures. To use the Researchers’ Reading Rooms 1 and 2, please see the ILCL website.

1.Registration Qualification

Anybody eighteen years of age or older is eligible to apply for user registration.
On application, you must present an identification document that verifies your name, address, and age.

• You cannot register an address other than your present home address (office address not accepted).  However, when applying for copying service by mail, you can use an address other than the one you registered as the delivery address for the copies.

2.Application Procedure

You can apply for user registration either (1) by mail or (2) by visiting the NDL.

(1) Application by Mail

Please print out an "Application for User Registration (PDF file 38KB)" and fill in the necessary information. (The application form is also available at the NDL.)

To verify your name, address, and date of birth, you must sent a copy of one of the following documents which carries exactly the same information as you fill in the application form. (If you cannot provide a copy of one of these documents for a compelling reason, please consult with the ILL Section, Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library: Fax:+81-774-94-9112).

• All the documents listed above must be within the term of validity.
• Note: A copy of the passport must include the part bearing your date of birth and home address.
• Please note that the following documents are not accepted:
  Student identification card (not bearing your home address and date of birth); staff identification card; commuter pass; business card; senior pass, etc.

Please send the application form, a copy of the identification document, and a standard-size envelope with your return address (no stamps necessary) by ordinary mail to the following address:

If the application is accepted, you will receive a "certificate of user registration" bearing your user ID number and password and a "registered user card" by mail.
You will need to wait about one week for the above documents excluding time for postal delivery.

(2) Application by Visiting the NDL

Please print out an "Application for User Registration (PDF file 38KB)" and fill in the necessary information. (The application form is also available at the NDL.)

To verify your name, address, and date of birth, please bring and present one of the following documents (photocopy not accepted) upon application:

• All the documents listed above must be within the term of validity.
• Please note that the following documents are not accepted:
  Student identification card (not bearing your home address and date of birth); staff identification card; commuter pass; business card; senior pass, etc.

Applications for user registration should be submitted at the following places of the NDL:

• The application must be submitted by 19:00 at the Tokyo Main Library, and by 17:30 at the Kansai-kan.
• We regret that the ILCL cannot accept applications from visitors.
• If the application is accepted, you will receive a "certificate of user registration" bearing your user ID and password and a "registered user card" on the spot.

When the registered information has changed, update must be done by one of the following means:

1. Online Update of Registered Information via the NDL-OPAC

Except for your name and address, you can update the registered information from the NDL-OPAC top page. Enter your user ID and password, click on the button named “Update of User Information” and then follow the instruction.

• Update of your registered name and address cannot be done online via the NDL-OPAC. Please refer to “Update of the Registered Information by Mail” or “Update of the Registered Information by Visiting the NDL.” (see 2-3 below).

2. Update of the Registered Information by Mail

Please send updated information for your user ID and both new and old addresses to the address below. There is no fixed form, but we can send a form by mail on request.

• In addition to the update information, please send a copy of an identification document which verifies your name, address and date of birth. When your name and address are changed, a copy of a document which carries your new name and address is required. (Acceptable documents for identification are the same as those used when applying for user registration).

3. Update of the Registered Information by Visiting the Library

Fill in and submit an update form available at the following places in the library.

• In addition to the update form, please present an identification document which verifies your name, address and date of birth (photocopy not accepted). When your name and address are changed, a document which carries your new name and address is required. (Acceptable documents for identification are the same as those used when applying for user registration).

• We regret that the ILCL cannot accept an update form from visitors.

Please inform us at the following address when you wish to deregister yourself.

1) By Fax or E-mail

2) In Person

To protect the privacy of users, the National Diet Library (NDL) uses and manages the personal information according to the following policy:

1. Definition of Personal Information

The personal information that the NDL possesses includes the following:

2. Collection of Personal Information

The NDL collects the minimum necessary information on users and their use of its services, according to the Rules Concerning the Use of the National Diet Library's Materials (National Diet Library Rule No. 5,2004) and the Rules Concerning the Use of the International Library of Children's Literature of the National Diet Library's Materials (National Diet Library Rule No. 4 , 2000) on the following occasions:

• When users enter the NDL to use its materials,
• When users request library services in the NDL,
• When users request library services via the Internet or by mail,
• When users apply for user registration.
  

3. Use of Personal Information

The personal information the NDL obtains is used exclusively for the following purposes. The NDL or third parties will not use it for any other purposes.

• Providing library services: When users request library services at the NDL or from outside, the NDL uses their personal information until the completion of the services.
  
  
• Maintaining information on registered users: Information on registered users is maintained only for the term of validity of their registration (two years from the date of last visit or from the date of last application for remote service). In this case, only information on users (described in 1-(1)) is kept.
  
  
• Collecting statistics: For the purpose of keeping track of the NDL's service operations and improving the service quality, the NDL keeps statistics when necessary. The NDL does not, however, collect statistics that would identify individual users.
  

4. Management of Personal Information

• Information on users and their use of library services is only accessible to authorized persons of the NDL staff and the inhouse contractor. They are prohibited from browsing or modifying information unless it is required for the library services.
  
  
• The NDL's computer servers holding the information on users and their use of library services are protected against unauthorized access from outside.
  
  
• To prevent mixing up users' personal information, the NDL takes adequate measures in confirming the applicants' identity on application and controlling online access by requesting passwords.
  
  
• The NDL will modify or delete the users' registered information when so requested by the user.
  
  
• The NDL may need to disclose personal information to law enforcement agencies when presented with a search-and-seizure warrant issued by court or when urgent and unavoidable circumstances compel it to secure the life and body of a person.
  
  
• Once the need for it has ended, all personal information is destroyed promptly and without fail.