No. 118, March 2001

Cooperation with Republic of Korea libraries

4th mutual visit program between the National Diet Library (NDL) and the National Library of Korea (NLK)

An NDL delegation visited the Republic of Korea from September 18 to 25 on the 4th mutual visit program between the NDL and the NLK. The program started in 1997 to promote inter-library cooperation and to further strengthen mutual understanding. Headed by Ms. SUZUKI Naoko, Assistant Director of the Special Materials Department, this delegation this time had the following other members: Mr. MUTO Toshiyuki, Assistant Chief of the Acquisitions Division, and Mr. ISHIKAWA Taketoshi, Reference Librarian of the Asian Materials Division. 

The main theme of the program, now in its fourth year, was "Acquisition and dessemination of overseas material". Mr. Shin Hyun Taek, Director of Library Management Department, NLK, began the program with an overview and future strategy of the NLK, followed by report by Ms. Suzuki on the new user service plan of the NDL. Mr. Muto began the following day by introducing the acquisition and access of overseas electronic publications in the NDL, then, Mr. Kim Chang, Deputy Chief of Library Acquisition and Technical Service Division, NLK, reported on acquisitions and access of overseas materials in the NLK. As the last speaker, Mr. Ishikawa from the NDL introduced the outline of the Asian Resource Information Center (provisional name), planned in the Kansai-kan, a new facility of the NDL. Approximately thirty participants eagerly discussed acquisition of on-line electronic publications, character code, copy cataloging, inter-library cooperation, and so on. 

The NDL delegation also visited the National Assembly Library, the University of Seoul, and the Hangyang University. 

Cooperation with the National Assembly Library of Korea

The NDL's primary function is to assist Diet Members to perform their duties. In March 2000, the NDL invited the staff of the National Assembly Library of Korea to discuss future cooperation of the two parliamentary libraries in Japan and ROK. After deliberation, both library agreed on mutual staff training programs in FY2000 and 2001. 

Based on the agreement, Ms. SHIRAI Kyo of the National Diet Library completed a month's training centered on legislative service in the National Assembly Library from September to October 2000. The experience will contribute to the further development of relations between Japanese and Korean librarian and strengthen the close and longstanding links with the National Assembly Library of ROK. In FY2001, a trainee from the National Assembly Library will come to the NDL. 

The Japan-Korea Book Exhibition 2001

At a meeting with then Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil of the Republic of Korea in September 1999, then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan proposed that the year 2002, which is when the FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the two countries, be designated as The Year of Japan-ROK National Exchange in order to promote wide-ranging national exchanges. 

Also, "Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Council", which consists of leaders from many fields in the non government sector, was founded to discuss plans to enhance cultural and artistic exchange between the two countries. A number of program proposals were made at the meetings, including a Japan-Korea joint book exhibition. 

Since 2000, preparations for the Japan-Korea Book Exhibition (provisional name) in September (in Japan) and November (in ROK) 2001, are under way. Books on Japan published in Korea and the books on Korea published in Japan will be selected from the collections of the NDL and the NLK. Through the exhibition, deeper mutual understanding will be fostered, and a stronger bilateral partnership will be consolidated in the 21st century