The National Diet Library invited as trainees eleven senior Japanese Studies librarians working abroad from February 17 to March 7, 1997 in response to a request from the Japan Foundation. During their stay in Japan they also visited other related institutions.

The following are comments on the training program sent by some of them after they returned home.

• Qian Jun Gians, Beijin Center for Japanese Studies, China
• Ikuko Kaji, Istituto Giapponese di Cultura Rome, Italy
• Noboru Koyama, Cambridge University Library, UK
• Junko Bauermeister, Ifo Institute of Economic Research, Germany
• Sekiko Matsuzaki, Hautes etudes japonaises Instituts d'extreme-orient College de France
• Yasuko Makino, Japanese Studies Librarian C.V. Starr East Asian Library Columbia University, USA.
• Eiko Sakaguchi, Monash University Library, Australia

Qian Jun Gians, Beijin Center for Japanese Studies, China

I took part in the Training Program at the National Diet Library last February. This program impressed me very much, especially in the sense that I was able to learn a lot about the recent development of online databases in Japan.

In Japan they hardly used digital media until recently. However, now such media as the Internet and online databases are quite popular and numerous libraries and related organizations use them as reference tools.

The one of the most advanced Japanese institutions regarding this matter is the National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS). Fortunately I had an opportunity to go there during this program on February 19 and 20.

NACSIS is a so-called Inter-University Research Institution which was founded 11 years ago. It is the central facility of the Science Information System (SIS) and its roles are planning and coordinating of SIS, comprehensive research and development on scientific information and systems, compilation and services of union catalog databases, compilation and services of scholarly databases, and education and training of users.

I keenly realized the usefulness of its information retrieval services (58 different databases are available as of October 1996) and I would like to mention the fact that anyone can access its general picture on the Internet. Unfortunately, however, it is not always convenient for foreign organizations to use Japanese information, including NACSIS Information Retrieval Services even now.

Therefore I would like to suggest that expanding international business is the key factor for the future. I am sure it will be successful because of the increasing need for information on Japan from the world over as well as developing cooperation between kanji (Chinese character) using countries.

Ikuko Kaji, Istituto Giapponese di Cultura Rome, Italy

Firstly I would like to express my deepest gratitude for having been given the opportunity to participate in the training program of the National Diet Library (NDL), the Japan Foundation, the National Center for Science and Information Systems (NACSIS) and other institutions.

It was a valuable experience for me, who had no means to catch up on the Japanese latest information technologies except by skimming through books and articles, since overseas libraries on Japanese studies tend to be left behind by the recent rapid development of new information media and electronic netwaorking, and in addition our library is unique of this kind in Italy.

As our library started computerized cataloging in November last year, I was particularly interested in the feasibility of cataloging through J-BISC or NACSIS-CAT. To my great regret, after all, I found it would be difficult for our library to join the NACSIS-CAT network at present because we use Macintosh computers and, to participate in the network, probably would have to change to another kind. It would be also hard to receive support in connection to the network and other assistance.

During the program, I had a chance to use the NACSIS-IR service, but as our library has offered location information free of charge in principle, and most of our clients are students, the problem of charge would be an obstacle. The lecture on the NDL electronic library project was also of great interest to me. I had an impression that the digital library was in the distant future, but I was given a new view that it has already begun to be realized by the lecture dealing with such issues as the problem of legal deposit of digital publications and the project to build the Kansai-kan which would supply electronic information worldwide from Japan.

If bibliographical databases produced by the NDL could be accessible on-line to foreign organizations and document supply functions could be linked with such databases, it would be very helpful to overseas libraries on Japanese studies, for which so far it has taken quite a long time to get the latest information and documents from Japan. I hope the project will come to fruition as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the advancement in information networks has provided users with direct access to information, not through libraries. I think that now we have to consider and review the role and future of our library. It is one of the most precious harvests of the training program that I could build a human network of colleague trainees, who work for Japanese studies libraries in many countries, as well as that I became acquainted with the staff of the recipient institutions.

In these days of such fast progress of information technologies, without communication and cooperation with colleagues of other libraries facing common challenges, we would fall behind the rapidly changing environment. As the sole special library of Japanese studies in Italy, we have to improve our competence to provide better services.

Noboru Koyama, Cambridge University Library, UK

I have recently taken the first study and training programme for senior Japanese studies librarians as one of 11 participants. One of the underlying themes throughout the programme was the rapid development of information technology (I.T.) for Japanese studies, such as the Internet. Consequently, we have realised fully how important are the information and services which we can receive through I.T. for Japanese studies. As Japanese Studies librarians, we have naturally recognised what the new development of I.T. means for Japanese studies abroad. Obviously overseas libraries can receive huge benefits from the new era of information technology which has direct and prompt services, hitherto available only to Japanese libraries.

However, though I.T. has extended the spectrum of information media and library services, it has not rendered obsolete the traditional library media, such as books and periodicals. In fact, since more bibliographic information is easily available through new media and services, the demands for those traditional library materials have increased. In addition, the number of books and journals which are published in Japan is getting larger and larger, but the number of those which we can afford to acquire is not increasing or even decreasing in the worst cases, because of the high value of Japanese currency. Moreover, the fields of Japanese studies are extending too. So, we have to purchase diversified Japanese materials other than traditional Japanology materials and our coverage of Japanese publications is stretched to the limit.

Obviously the above mentioned problem reminds us immediately of resource sharing, accompanied with inter-library loan services and union catalogue. Actually we are developing the UK union catalogue of Japanese publications as part of the resource sharing of Japanese materials in Britain and wish to extend it to Europe. As globalization advances, we may be able to develop world-wide resource sharing scheme for Japanese studies. Of course, in most cases overseas libraries are probably recipients of services from Japanese libraries, such as photocopies and book loans because of the nature of Japanese studies. Undoubtedly Japanese national and university libraries, such as the National Diet Library (NDL) are the chief resource centres for Japanese studies. Therefore, international co-operation from Japanese libraries, such as NDL could take a crucial role in the global development of Japanese studies, providing not only the information, but also the actual services for library materials, such as photocopies and book loans.

As I have mentioned, the new development of information technology has considerably reduced the barriers of space and time. What overseas libraries look forward to receiving through international co-operation from Japanese libraries is the rapid ILL services (loan and photocopying services) backed with the technology of our information era. Currently Cambridge University Library and the Bodleian Japanese Library (Oxford) are receiving a prompt photocopying service through NACSIS ILL Services and we have realised the potential impact for overseas Japanese collections, particularly if the book loan service were added. Now we know NACSIS ILL has been supported with the huge collection of NDL. So, we believe that international photocopying and loan services which are supported by NACSIS ILL and NDL and equipped with the new development of I.T. could further the development of Japanese studies abroad significantly.

Junko Bauermeister, Ifo Institute of Economic Research, Germany

Catalogers do not like government publications in German libraries. They try to sidestep cataloging such printed materials, saying, "The thinner, the more troublesome." Recently, gray literature is drawing more and more attention and has come into question to such an extent that international conferences are held. I have been much interested in acquisition, processing and management of governmental materials, statistics, etc., as staff member in charge of collecting Japanese information at the Institute of Economic Research.

This training program gave me the opportunity to observe the quite substantialcollection and reference services of the Official Publications Room of the National Diet Library and to see and browse a large amount of official materials and research reports published by domestic and foreign organizations through the shelves in the sixth basement stacks. This enormous collection, which accounts for about 20 percent of the whole NDL holdings, however, would not cover even half of all the government publications, although the NDL is the sole deposit library in Japan. This shows the difficulties in collecting official materials or gray literature. For example, a lecturer on this subject mentioned a research report on governmental materials written by the Administrative Management Agency as a reference tool, but, ironically enough, the NDL did not hold its copy.

There are libraries other than the NDL collecting government publications, but the NDL is the only one that has an established acquisitions system. Most of the other ninstitutions collect these kinds of materials through, as it were, personal connections. This applies to the experiences of the staff of the Government Data Research Center of Japan which we visited later during the program. The materials are collected there based on connections, experiences and intuition of the staff in charge.

Today, publications are becoming diversified into a variety of forms such as diskettes, CDs, Internet versions, etc. as well as printed matter. These trends are not exceptional for government publications. Perhaps, rather, they are ahead of the trends. How will the NDL cope with such a situation? Besides, government publications collected thus with difficulties, if not used, would be unworthy. How will the NDL answer a wide range of respective requests?

It would be ideal for me if the NDL collection (unnecessary to be limited to official publications) and its reference services were more easily accessible to foreign institutions. There were chances to discuss those issues frankly during the training program, and I received an optimistic impression. I hope for further development in this direction.

Sekiko Matsuzaki, Hautes etudes japonaises Instituts d'extreme-orient College de France

The Training Program of three weeks was very useful to me. I felt strongly again the importance of the network. Particularly, I think, a human network is very important as well as information communications through the Internet, etc. This Program was very significant for the future of Japanese studies abroad in the sense that librarians who are in charge of Japanese materials in countries different in culture and tradition, together with the staff of the National Diet Library and other principal libraries and information institutions, had an opportunity to consider and exchange opinions on diverse issues concerning Japanese studies libraries. One encounters a serious obstacle to building a human network among libraries on Japanese studies in France; there are fewer full-time librarians expert in the area than might be expected. I was in charge of compilation of the union catalog of Japanese books held by libraries in Paris (complete works, serials), which will be published soon, but the collection of two libraries among the thirteen participating in this union catalog project are not available at present because of lack of staff and removal or repairing.

In France, most of the universities and higher educational institutions are national and there are strict restrictions on employing librarians for such organizations. It is very difficult or sometimes impossible within the restrictions to secure those who can use special languages such as Japanese. Therefore, there are not a few libraries where part-timers process Japanese materials or where lecturers or researchersdo it in their spare time. It can be managed in the libraries which do not hold a large Japanese collection. However, if the holdings increase to some extent or once the collection is moved because of removal or repair, without expert librarians, the library often will not function well. In a library with full-time librarians in charge of the Japanese collections, to the contrary, even if there is a move or repair work, the library often manages to remain available to readers.

Recently in France, the Japanese language came to be taught extensively and became popular. Year after year the number of universities in the provinces as well as in Paris providing a course in the Japanese language are increasing. Such a growth is a fruit of not only French enthusiasm but also of assistance from Japan, especially the support of the Japan Foundation. If France sees further development and dissemination of Japanese-language education and of Japanese studies, the demand for special libraries in this field and automation of libraries will increase. Then, expert librarians will be indispensable to such libraries. At present, however, the possibility of introducing of specialist posts is very small, and appropriate experts are difficult to find.

I quite agree with Professor Yukio Fujino, University of Library Information Science, who said that if there were no good Japanese studies librarians, Japanese studies would decline. Is it impossible for Japan and France to cooperate in fostering librarians and in posting them full-time to more libraries? I expect much help from the National Diet Library and the Japan Foundation. The Japan Foundation has made a large contribution to overseas libraries by donating books. If they could extend their assistance to processing and maintenance of those donated books, the materials will be used more frequently and easily and be of much more help to Japanese studies abroad.

Yasuko Makino, Japanese Studies Librarian C.V. Starr East Asian Library Columbia University, USA.

I have dreamt of training like this one for many years so it was realy my dream come true and was honored to be selected to participate in this training representing the United States.

The training program was carefully planned, prepared and executed by excellent lecturers and trainers. Extremely well-coordinated cooperation of the hosting agencies was admirable and created a truly useful and stimulating program for us trainees. Time distribution of two weeks of lectures and hands-on-practices and a week of site visits was a good balance.

The panel discussion format by the kenshusei (trainees) with a moderator with large attendance of Japanese librarians was an excellent opportunity for improving the communication and develop understanding among the participants, I thought, but was rather disappointed by the lack of participation from the audience.

One particular interest of Japanese studies librarians overseas is to find out what type of resources and information are available in Japan for our patrons. So the talks on electronic library, progress of Kansaikan as the distribution center of electronic information, site visits to places such as JST, Kokubungaku Kenkyu Shiryokan and Seifu Shiryoto Fukyu Chosakai are of particular interest. These sites are well-selected and gave us many useful information. Also two-day-long hands-on training at NACSIS on its various on-line databases including NACSIS-IR and Zasshi Kiji Sakuin Database are extremely useful to get a feel of what we have to know to be connected with these databases from overseas. This training gave us a superb opportunity to be acquainted with resources and information available in Japan and to established personal connections with Japanese libraries and librarians as well as other resource and information centers in Japan.

I was also impressed by the quality of Japanese librarians, particularly those whom we met at the National Diet Library as well as the trainees all over the world. There is a sense of mission among them. I am looking forward to work with them for the global advancement of Japanese studies. I hope this worth-while program will continue maybe extending to other countries of the world as well. Mostly, this training gave Japanese studies librarians from all over the world an excellent opportunity to establish a truly global network for improved communication and sharing resources and information related to Japanese studies and information from Japan.

Eiko Sakaguchi, Monash University Library, Australia

After a condensed, intensive two week training program in the National Diet Library (NDL) and National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS), the third week of our training was devoted to visiting national and private institutions with library resources and services. On the first day we visited the National Archives and Diplomatic Record Office and its Museum.

The second day was spent at the National Institute of Japanese Literature and Historical Museum, and the Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) and the forth day we visited the Institute for Dissemination and Research of Government Data, and the Mita Media Center of Keio University. We also personally arranged the visits on the third and fifth days. The following is a brief account of these official visits.

I was very impressed with the efforts devoted to preservation and book restoration at the National Archives. We saw an enormous number of boxes of official documents from government ministries waiting for fumigating, staff members concentrating on microfilming and performing the delicate task of restoring the insect damaged old Japanese books. The Diplomatic Record Office collects the diplomatic records and the period covered is from the end of the Edo period onwards. The office complies and publishes important historical records in series of Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy. The reference services are available for the researchers overseas through Japanese embassies and consulate-generals in the country.

The National Institute of Japanese Literature and Historical Museum offers not only traditional library services but also prepares for presenting classical text in digital format. Its Digital Information Center homepage (http:// www.nijl.ac.jp/infocenter.html) offers a very interesting test database service on Japanese classical literature. After looking at the digitized classical literature, we were fascinated by the real historical materials and listening to explanation on them at the Historical Museum.

We received a series of sophisticated demonstration at JST, about their services, database creation and machine translation which JST developed. Their Honyaku Network (http://www.jmt.jst.go.jp/menu1-index.html) provides automated translation service through e-mail to the registered users.

The Institute for Dissemination and Research of Government Data gathers the government publications including ones not on the market, publishes abstracts, and provides online database services (GIOSS-Net). We were given the opportunity at the Mita Media Center of Keio University to look at the whole library operation from acquisition to reference services. We were also briefed how the library system connect their four campuses. We saw their virtual library project of preserving the Gutenberg Bible into digital format, as one of the future directions.

It was fascinating to pay a visit to the places one only knows through publications, visitors or the Internet. I thought that it was extremely fortunate to gain access to these resource centres as official guests who could observe the inside of the organization and their operation. It was very useful to obtain the characteristics of resources available in these distinguished institutions, and to learn that they offer services for overseas libraries. As most of the institutions provide information through the Internet and some offer the online database services, it is my duty now to analyze and utilize these services for our users.