Waseda University Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waseda University (早稲田大学 Waseda Daigaku; often abbreviated to 早大 Sōdai for short) is one of the two most prestigious private universities in Japan (the other being Keio University). It is also one of the Tokyo 6 Universities Alliance. It is located on the northern side of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. The university library is one of the largest in Japan, which includes a unique collection. It was established in 1882, and currently holds some 4.5 million volumes and 46,000 serials.
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[edit] Library History
The Waseda University Library (早稲田大学図書館; Waseda Daigaku Toshokan) was originally established at the time of the founding of the University in 1882 (at that time called 東京専門学校; Tokyo Senmon Gakkou). Its current Central Library building was opened in 1991, commemorating the University's centennial. All together there are 29 libraries at the University. The libraries include the Central Library, 4 Campus Libraries, and school libraries or reading rooms for students, attached to each school and institute. These libraries are said to hold 4.5 million books.
The Waseda University Library also possesses a unique collection which survived the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II unlike many of its counterparts. The Waseda library possesses some items which even the National Diet Library do not have. Because of this, its collection is an important resource in the study of pre-war Japanese history and literature.
[edit] Branches
The library is divided into a central library and four branch libraries, one at each campus. These branch libraries are the S.Takata Memorial Research Library, the Library of Science and Engineering, the Toyama Library, and the Tokorozawa Library.
[edit] Collections
The Waseda University Library owns a large number of materials of eminent cultural value. Alongside the two items designated as National Treasures and five sets (187 items) as Important Cultural Assets, are manuscripts, rare books, calligraphies, handwriting strips of poems, archival materials related to Japanese history, and several special collections named after their donators, among others. Because of their rarity, access to such materials is usually limited, except for special exhibitions.
Among Waseda University Library's many unique collections are the following:
- Literary works from the Qing Dynasty of China, collected by a writer of Chinese verse, Noguchi Ichitaro (Pen name: Neisai, 1867-1905);
- History of the Ming Dynasty, donated in 1910 by Shimomura Masataro (1883-1944), the owner of Daimaru Draper in Kyoto and alumnus of Waseda;
- Statistical literature in early modern Japan;
- Governmental materials and letters related to the University's founder;
- Chinese military books in the Qing and Ming era;
- Japanese and Chinese classical mathematics, in particular numerous editions of "Jinkoki";
- Japanese books of the late Edo period;
- Original manuscripts of the renga masters (Sogi, Shinkei etc.); and
- History of the modern Japanese legal system.
Outside of the library system, Waseda University also has museums including the Waseda Theatre Museum, which contains its own collection.
[edit] Access
The Waseda University Library system limits access to students, faculty and research fellows. However students from some foreign universities may be able to apply for privileged access if Waseda University has signed a Memorandum Agreement with that university. For example on May 30th, 2002 Professor Michitaro Urukawa, director of Waseda University Library, and Columbia University librarian James G. Neal signed such a memorandum that outlines an agreement between the two libraries to cooperate in the exchange of materials, information access, Interlibrary loan and staff exchanges. Waseda University has also signed a similar agreement with the University of Maryland, College Park.
