The National Diet Library, which opened on June 5th, 1948, has reached its 60th anniversary. (→Purpose of Establishment and Functions)
It has been providing various kinds of services to meet contemporary needs, as the support organ of the Diet for legislation as well as the sole national library of Japan. (→History)
To introduce its history of 60 years and activities, the following commemorative events will be held.
*Applications will be accepted from one month before the every event.

1. Symposium

"The National Diet Library in the ICT Age: as the infrastructure of knowledge and information"
It is a symposium on the course to be taken by the National Diet Library in the changing society: a lecture on the future of its role to assist the legislative branch and a panel discussion considering what the future infrastructure of knowledge ought to be, considering the cultural and technical changes affecting knowledge and information.

(1) Date and time

November 19th (Wed) morning and afternoon
Admission free, prior application is necessary.

(2) Venues

The auditorium of the Annex of Tokyo Main Library, Kansai-kan Library (by live stage broadcast)

2. Exhibition of rare books

"Rare books of the National Diet Library -The 60th anniversary"
77 rare materials selected from our collection which have been built up for 60 years will be placed on exhibition in three sections: representative classics in Japanese and Chinese (The Tales of Ise, The Tale of Genji, The Analects of Confucius, etc.), manuscripts, books with handwritten notes and letters of scholars and literati, development of colored books from picture scrolls to polychrome printed books.

Tokyo Main Library

(1) Exhibition

(a) Date and Time
From October 16th (Thu) to October 29th (Wed) 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. including Sat and Sun
Admission free, no prior application is needed.

(b) Venue
The exhibition room of the Annex of Tokyo Main Library

(2) Lecture

(a) Date and Time
October 25th (Sat) afternoon
Admission free, prior application is necessary.

(b) Venue
The auditorium of the Annex of Tokyo Main Library

(c) Lecturer
Mr. Takashi ATODA (writer, president of Japan P.E.N. Club)

Kansai-Kan

(1) Exhibition

(a) Date and Time
From November 13th (Thu) to November 26th (Wed) 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. including Sat and Sun
Admission free, no prior application is needed.

(b) Venue
The auditorium of Kansai-Kan

(2) Lecture

(a) Date and Time
November 22nd (Sat) afternoon
Admission free, prior application is necessary.

(b) Venue
The first service training room

(c) Lecturer
Mr. Koichi FUJIMOTO (visiting professor of Ryukoku University)

3. Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO) open seminar

"National Libraries in Asia and Oceania under the Digital Information Environment" (tentative)

(1) Date and time

October 21st (Tue) 14:00-17:00
Admission free, prior application is necessary.

(2) Venues

The auditorium of the Annex of Tokyo Main Library