Help : Collections
Frequently asked questions
Q Is it true that the NDL holds all publications in Japan?
Q Is there any difference in the materials available for use at the Tokyo Main Library, the Kansai-kan Library, and the International Library of Children's Literature?
Q Are there maps of residential areas in the collections? Can I use these?
Q Are there old newspapers in the collections? Can I use these?
Q Are there textbooks in the collections? Can I use these?
Q Are there dictionaries (Japanese or foreign) in the collections? Can I use these?
Q Compared to Japanese materials, the Library's collections of specialist books and journals from abroad is rather small. Please work to expand this collection.
Based on the National Diet Library Law, the deposit of publications at the National DietLibrary is mandatory for all publications issued in Japan (the Legal Deposit System). However, since some publishers areunfamiliar with the legal deposit system, some publications have not been deposited by the publisher. TheLibrary will keep striving to disseminate information and raise public awareness of the legal depositsystem.
Yes. Please check the NDL Search to see which Library houses the materials you are looking for. You can also order in materials not held by that Library, and in some cases you may be able to read materials in a different format, such as electronic journals.
Tokyo Main Library
The Library's collections include residential area maps from across the entire country. The ageof these holdings varies depending on the region, but the collections includes old maps from the 1960s (the23 wards of Tokyo) and the 1970s (other regions).
These materials are not available for externallending and cannot be mailed as copies or ordered into the Kansai-kan Library. Please either read these oruse the copying services at the Tokyo Main Library.
Kansai-kan Library
The Kansai-kan Library does not have any residential area maps in its collection.
There are old newspapers in the collections
Japanese textbooks have been acquired starting from fiscal year 2002 (fiscal year 2003 for highschool textbooks), and these are available in the International Library of Children's Literature.Essentially, the collection does not include any earlier textbooks than this.
Tokyo Main Library
The latest editions of the most common foreign language dictionaries (including regulardictionaries, Chinese character dictionaries, encyclopedias, and English-Japanese dictionaries) areavailable in the Humanities Room on the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Main Library.
However, older editions and dictionaries for limited specialist fields such as law and economics are housedin the closed stacks or other Special Materials Rooms. Please check NDL Search for details.
Kansai-kan Library
These are available in the General Collections Room.
Unlike Japanese publications acquired through the legal deposit system, the Library acquiresforeign publications more selectively through purchasing or international exchanges. Given budgetaryconstraints, the Library prioritizes the acquisition of foreign publications considered useful in governmentdeliberations and academic studies/research.
Selection of materials is undertaken in accordance with the Policy for Acquisition of Materials (in Japanese) and theGuidelines for Acquisition of Materials (in Japanese).In addition, the Library also acquires materials in the fields of science and technology to further the scientific and technical information development (in Japanese) ofJapan as a whole, and boasts one of the finest collections in Japan.
Taking into account the nation'sneeds, we will keep working hard to expand the collection, in accordance with the Library's acquisitionspolicy.