National Diet Library

April 1, 2008
National Diet Library

Reader services and other on-site services are provided in accordance with the Instructions for the On-site Use of the Tokyo Main Library and the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library (NDL(PS)080325001 of March 27, 2008).
The Instructions are prepared in order to provide multiple users with good library services, and to preserve the library materials as the cultural assets of people and make them available for the future generations.
The users may enter the Library, having agreed to the following terms.

1. Prohibited Items

Users are not allowed to carry the items listed below inside the Library. (Please ask at the reception when you need any of the prohibited items for medical or other reasons.)

(1) Opaque bags 17x25cm or larger (such as briefcase, shopping bags, envelopes, etc.)
(2) Audio equipment (such as headphones, radios, sound recorders, etc.)
(3) Copiers, cameras, video cameras, scanners, etc. (Cell-phones are allowed, but using the camera function, scanner and recording function, radio function, etc. is prohibited. In addition, users are requested to turn them to silent mode, and to speak on the cell-phone only in the designated areas.)
(4) Blades (penknives, cutters, razors, etc.)
(5) Umbrellas
(6) Animals and plants
(7) Any other items the Library deems inappropriate to be carried in, in consideration of preservation of library materials, security in the Library and maintenance of good reading environment for users

2. Deposit of baggage

Users are requested to deposit their baggage in a coin-operated locker and carry necessary items (such as notebooks) in a transparent bag. The transparent bags may be examined when users leave the Library. The lockers are available only for that day (until the Library closes). Any items left in a locker after the library has closed, are treated as lost articles.

3. Entry of name, address and other information

Users must enter their own name, address, telephone number and other information correctly into the User Card issuing machine at the entrance of the Library. (Registered users enter the information by using their registered user card.) Users must also correctly enter their own name, address and other information requested when applying for library services.

4. Generally prohibited acts

The following acts are prohibited in the Library:

(1) Any act that disturbs the reading environment (Speaking loudly, etc.)
(2) Any act that threatens security (Using violence against other users or library staff, molestation or sexual harassment, stalking or threatening other users, etc.)
(3) Drinking or eating in areas other than cafeteria and tea rooms
(4) Smoking in areas other than the smoking room
(5) Attempting to enter or leave the Library without passing through the users’ gates

5. Use of materials

To preserve materials, users are requested to observe the following instructions:

(1) Materials must be read in the designated areas within the Library.
(2) Materials must be handled with care. (It is prohibited to bend, open roughly or stain materials, to eat or drink while reading, etc.)
(3) You must not cut or tear materials.
(4) You must not carry materials into the cafeteria and tea rooms. In case you need to do so because all the lockers are in use, please keep the materials inside the transparent bag together with your belongings.
(5) You must not carry materials into the smoking room.
(6) You must not carry materials into the toilets.
(7) You must not take or try to take materials out of the Library.
(8) You must keep the borrowed materials appropriately under your control until you return them.

6. Return of materials

Users are not allowed to leave the Library unless all materials are returned except those left with the Copying Centers for Regular Photoduplication. The materials should be returned to the designated place, following the designated procedure.

7. User Card

Users are requested to observe the following instructions concerning the User Card.

(1) You must not bend the User Card. (Be careful not to sit down with the card in a rear pocket.)
(2) You must not stain the User Card or handle it roughly.
(3) You must not exchange the User Card with another user.
(4) You must not take the User Card out of the Library

8. Computers and other equipment

Users are requested not to tamper with the configurations of computers and other Library equipment, and not to connect or insert any instruments or media into a computer.

9. Instructions by the Library staff

Users are requested to follow the instructions of the Library officials and employees concerning the use of materials and facilities. Users are also requested not to obstruct the work of the Library staff members by demanding an interview or the like.

10. Termination of use

Users who do not observe the terms of the Instructions may be ordered to stop using library services and leave the Library if they were warned but failed to stop the violations. Users who violate 4(2), 5(3) or 5(7) above may be immediately ordered to stop using library services and leave the Library.

11. Civil and penal responsibility

Users who stain, damage or lose the materials, facilities or equipment of the National Diet Library must pay compensation in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The National Diet Library will report to the police when it considers that the violation constitutes a crime, in addition to the termination of use stipulated in paragraph 10 and the compensation stipulated in this paragraph.

12. Suspension of admission

Users who failed to observe the terms of the Instructions may be suspended from admission for a certain period of time, taking into consideration the nature of the violation, gravity of the consequence, whether repeated or not, and whether satisfaction was given in respect of any damages.