• 1. Group training
• 2. E-Learning
• 3. Training program on reference service by dispatched NDL staff

The National Diet Library (NDL) provides various training programs mainly for librarians in Japan. The programs are classified roughly into three types.

The first is group training at the NDL. It is conducted using the unique collections in the library and our knowledge and skills accumulated through daily operations. Each course consists of not only lectures but also exercises and practical training. Librarians in Japan can apply for these courses.

The second is a remote training program. This is a self-learning program via the Internet, that is, an e-learning program. Trainees can participate in courses any time and anywhere with a PC connected to the Internet. Although teaching materials are only in Japanese, overseas librarians can also participate in the courses.

The third is a training program on reference service carried out by dispatched NDL staff. Our staff members visit institutions in Japan to give lectures on reference work.

For: Public librarians, university librarians and special librarians
Contents: This program aims to teach the basics of material preservation and repairing techniques, consisting of a lecture on preserving materials and practical experience of repairing materials.

For: Librarians who use NDL services (inter-library loan service, copying service and reference service) in public libraries, university libraries and special libraries
Contents: We explain how to use NDL's services for libraries more efficiently.

*Note:This guidance program ended in 2009.

For: Public librarians, university librarians and special librarians who want to learn basic knowledge about researching scientific and technological information
Contents: This program aims to teach how to find scientific and technological information, and search and obtain materials. Taking some familiar topics as examples, we introduce useful reference tools for research and how to use them. This program introduces features of special materials in science and technology, and offers lectures and practice on how to research holding institutions and bibliographic information.

For: Librarians engaged in children's services
Contents: Using Japanese and overseas collections of the International Library of Children's Literature (ILCL), this lecture series aims to provide deeper and broader knowledge of children's literature.

For: University librarians, special librarians and public librarians who deal with Asian information
Contents: The purpose of this program is to improve the services for Asian information in each library in Japan.

For: Staff dealing with Japanese old materials in each institution. Up to 3 years of experience.
Contents: This program is jointly provided by the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL) and NDL. To develop an environment in which old Japanese materials are better organized and cataloged, we provide expertise in bibliography and practical skills for cataloging.

For: Public librarians, university librarians, special librarians, etc.
Contents: This program aims to improve the reference service for statutes, parliamentary documents and official publications in each library in Japan. A lecture is provided on the outline and resources of these materials, and exercise is conducted using them

For: Staff members engaged in reference services in public libraries, university libraries and special libraries. At least 5 years of experience in reference service.
Contents: This program aims to develop reference service skills. A lecture is offered on reference service theory. The NDL staff members in charge explain our workflow, from receiving a reference request to providing an answer (including making a record), and introduce some useful reference tools. Then, trainees have a discussion in the workshop on some reference cases.

For: University librarians and public librarians who want to gain basic knowledge about services for the handicapped
Contents: The purpose of this program is to improve the services for the handicapped in every library in Japan.

For: Public librarians who are engaged in constructing or making use of digital archives
Contents: This program aims to teach how to plan, construct and make use of digital archives.

For: Those who are able to obtain, offer and disseminate Japanese information outside Japan including early career researchers in Japanese Studies, librarians and curators who have research and working experience in Japanese Studies.
Contents: The purpose of this workshop is to help overseas Japanese information specialists and young Japanese Studies researchers/academics in obtaining, offering, and disseminating "Access to the culture and the society of contemporary Japan," and constructing an international network through the experience.

For: Everyone
Contents: As the first step in bibliographical study, this program explains the history of the forms of Japanese books, introducing many styles of old Japanese books. The teaching materials are reproduced from a virtual exhibition on the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL) website.

For: Librarians
Contents: In order to improve the reference service for scientific and technological information in each library, this course gives an outline of scientific and technological resources, major institutions and libraries collecting them and some useful reference tools. Taking foreign magazines as an example, we explain the workflow from identifying the needed documents to obtaining them.

For: Librarians
Contents: We outline the fundamental concept of preservation and conservation, appropriate methods for preserving and using materials, including the factors of deterioration and the storage environment. In addition, trainees learn the systematical way of implementation.

For: Librarians
Contents: The purpose of this course is to improve the reference service for scientific and technological information in each library. Taking some scientific and technical materials as examples, especially reports produced under grants-in-aid for scientific research, doctoral dissertations and standards, trainees learn the characteristics of these materials and how to search them.

For: Librarians
Contents: The purpose of this course is to improve the business information and support services in every library. Taking the statistics and the information on economy, trade, market, company and industry, trainees learn the characteristics of these materials and how to search them.

For: Librarians
Contents: The purpose of this course is to learn basic knowledge about the copyright system required for library work. Taking library services such as reading, photoduplication and loan as examples, it explains the process of how to deal with copyright.

For: Everyone
Contents: The purpose of this course is to learn basic knowledge for planning digital archive projects, technique and copyright handling for digitization. The contents of this course are based on the group training materials “Training Program on digitization of materials” held in 2011.9.29-30.

• National Diet Library E-Learning Portal(Japanese Only)

For: Public librarians, university librarians, special librarians, etc.
Contents: The NDL staff members, as instructors, lecture on themes of reference operation; mainly business support services and the uses of digital tools on the NDL website.