Trainees and staff of the program (3rd from left of the back row is the author)

1. Preface

The National Diet Library (NDL) jointly hosted the Training program for information specialists for Japanese studies in FY 2002 with the Japan Foundation (JF), in cooperation with the International House of Japan (IHJ) and the National Institute of Informatics (NII).  The program was held from December 2 to 20, 2002, mainly in the Tokyo Main Library of the NDL, the Kansai-kan of the NDL and the NII.  Nine trainees from eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden and USA) attended. 

This training program was organized as one of the "Group Tour Programs for Specialists" of the JF in FY2002. Staff from the JF, the IHJ, the NII, and the NDL formed a planning committee, and planned and organized the program together. 
 

Contents of the program

Tokyo

Kansai

2. History

The NDL held five times the "Training Program for Senior Japanese Studies Librarian" (after FY1998, "Training Program for Japanese Studies Librarians") from FY1996 to FY2000 by request from the JF (related articles).  This program was intended for Japanese studies librarians working at overseas university, institute, national and public libraries. 

The "Training program for information specialists for Japanese studies" was organized to take over and enhance the "Training Program for Senior Japanese Studies Librarian" ; the scope of the trainees was broadened and not only librarians but also Japanese studies specialists working in the same kind of institutions could attend the training, the contents of the program were expanded to include not only library and information science related but also archive and museum related subjects.  These changes reflected the increase of demands for primary resources with the deepening of overseas Japanese studies and the expansion of resources demanded for Japanese studies from "academic resources" to various media*.  In addition, a study of the trends of resources and media on Japanese language education was also provided.

*"Linking research, materials, and information: the proceedings of an International Conference on the Enhancement of Information Availability for Scholarly Resources in Japanese Studies", edited by the International House of Japan Library, published by the Japan Foundation. Dec. 2002, pp.1-3

3. Outline of the program

Aims of the program were : 

1. To understand systems of information creation and circulation in Japan, information resources and access to them.
2. To comprehend the outline and characteristics of useful information resources both in paper form and digital form.
3. To develop and expand the network of personal contacts with staff members of major information institutes in Japan and among the trainees. 
4. To learn how to use various media and information channels to get information about Japan
5. To learn how to use computers to obtain electronic information in the Japanese language.

Besides lectures on various subjects based on Japanese materials and experience of the reference work of the NDL, lectures on trends and issues of distribution of publications in Japan and Japanese information resources on the web were provided. In addition, lectures on the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records, National Archives of Japan and resources and media on Japanese language education were also provided to introduce the activities of related institutes.

At the NII, introduction of databases produced by the NII and a lecture on information processing in the Japanese language were provided.

On December 12, a workshop "References Services in the Digital Age: Focusing on
Information about Japan" hosted by the JF and the IHJ was held. On the themes of  "Useful Web sites for information on Japan and the efforts of librarians for the creation, maintenance and supplying of information on Web sites" and "Collaborative reference services through e-mail, mailing lists, and web-based networks", reports from domestic institutions and trainees were presented and animated discussion was exchanged.

In the third week, the venue was transferred to the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library. Besides lectures on NDL's digital library projects and document supply services, there were observation tours to the Kyoto University Library, the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, and the Nara National Museum. To understand the circumstance of libraries in Japan, a lecture on library and information science in Japan was provided. 

According to the results of the questionnaire survey conducted after the training program, trainees were satisfied with the latest information provided in the program and rated it highly. Trainees also estimated the program as a good opportunity to develop a network of personal contacts. It could be said that our goals were accomplished. New attempts such as two venues in Tokyo and Kansai, broadening scope of trainees and expansion of contents of subjects were highly evaluated as well. 

This training program will also be provided in FY2003 and FY2004. The Library Support Division regards it as an important part of its training and exchange programs. From now on we will discuss issues such as provision of lectures on modern Japanese culture and traditional arts of Japan that were requested by trainees, to construct a more fulfilling training program that introduces Japan and Japanese studies from many directions.  Follow-up training for trainees is also an issue to be discussed.