Keio Media Centers (Libraries)

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Keio Media Centers is the English-language name selected and preferred by the Keio University web site in describing the university library system.[1]

The Media Centers (libraries) on the various Keio campuses represent important information resources for students, faculty, and researchers. As a whole, the libraries represent one of the major academic information storehouses in Japan. The combined libraries of the Keio Media Centers include more than 4.2 million books and publications.[2]

Contents

[edit] Worldcat/OCLC

Keio University's libraries are fully integrated into the international shared-cataloging system known as OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) and Worldcat. Worldcat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of the more than 50,000 libraries which participate in the OCLC global cooperative. OCLC was founded in 1967 and Worldcat was created in 1971. Both names are used interchangeably today in identifying the world's largest bibliographic database.

In 2002, Keio University was the first Japanese university library to formally join the Research Libraries Group (RLG), which was an international consortium research libraries, archives and museums linked though OCLC. RLG linked more than 140 partner institutions through OCLC. In 2006, RLG merged into OCLC.[3] At the Keio Media Centers, OCLC’s comprehensive global catalog database is fully coordinated and integrated in Worldcat.[4]

[edit] Media Center facilities

Keio University (library, Mita campus)
Keio University (library, Mita campus)

Although the holdings and other elements of the library system are physically separated across a number of campuses, all are linked in an integrated catalog access system.[5]

[edit] Mita Media Center

The Mita Media Center evolved directly from the Keio University library which was initially created in 1912. The library's collection expanded into a new building in 1982. A combined total of 2.3 million books are housed in the Mita Media Center.[6]

The Mita campus (Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo) has been the main site of Keio University since 1871 when the institution moved here from the site of Yukichi Fukuzawa's private school for Dutch studies which dates from 1858. The gothic, red-brick library was built in 1912. This structure has been known as a symbol of Keio University for nearly a century. It now serves as an archive and venue for functions. The library building is recognized as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government.[7]

[edit] Hiyoshi Media Center

The Hiyoshi Media Center was designed primarily as a library for first- and second-year students. The freshmen and sophomores who mainly use this library enjoy ready access to academic books as well as a wide variety of general-interest videos, DVDs, and CDs. The media center provides access to online databases and electronic journals.[8]

The Hiyoshi Campus (Hiyoshi, Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa) was established in 1934 as a general-education facility for all the undergraduate faculties. The Hiyoshi Campus covers some 360,000 square meters. Nearby are the Keio Graduate School of Business Administration, the Graduate School of Media Design and the Graduate School of System Design and Management.[9]

[edit] Media Center for Science and Technology

The Media Center for Science and Technology is located in Yagami. This part of the university library system specializes in science and engineering materials.[10]

The Yagami Campus (Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa) was created in 1972 on a hill very near to the Hiyoshi campus. This location is home to the Faculty of Science & Technology and the Graduate School of Science & Technology.[11]

[edit] Shinanomachi Media Center

The Shinanomachi Media Center is Keio's medical library.[12]

The Shinanomachi Campus (Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) has expanded around the Keio University Hospital, which was founded in 1920. This location is home to the Keio School of Medicine, which dates back to 1917. The Keio Graduate School of Medicine is also located at this campus.[13]

[edit] SFC Media Center

The SFC Media Center (the Shonan Fujisawa Campus Media Center) functions as both a traditional library and a modern information processing center, with multimedia and PC stations connected to the Internet through a campus-wide LAN.[14]

The Shōnan Fujisawa Campus (Endo, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa) was iniitally developed in the 1990s. This location is home to the Faculties of Policy Management, Environment and Information Studies and Nursing & Medical Care and to the Graduate Schools of Media & Governance and Health Management.[15]

[edit] Treasures

Keio's collection of rare books and other "treasures" includes the Keio Gutenberg Bible, natural history books, medieval manuscrips. The collection of the university was begun in the late 1850s with European Illustrated Books & Manuscripts c.1400-1700. Today the library holdings have expanded to include 1st and 2nd edition copies of Caxton's Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. The breadth of Western material is balanced by a collection of Japanese maps and Japanese wood-block prints.[16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Keio University, web site home page
  2. ^ Keio Media Centers home page
  3. ^ List of OCLC participants
  4. ^ Worldcat web site home page
  5. ^ Keio University facility map
  6. ^ Mita Media Center home page (in Japanese)
  7. ^ Mita ... campus information
  8. ^ Hiyoshi Media Center home page (in Japanese)
  9. ^ Hiyoshi ... campus information
  10. ^ Media Center for Science and Technology home page (in Japanese)
  11. ^ Yagami ... campus information
  12. ^ Shinanomachi Media Center home page (in Japanese)
  13. ^ Shinanomachi ... campus information
  14. ^ SFC Media Center home page (in Japanese)
  15. ^ Shonan Fujisawa ... campus information
  16. ^ Keio's treasures web site

[edit] See also

[edit] External links