A branch of the National Diet Library is the International Library of Children's Literature.
I like the idea of literature as diet, don't you? Founded in 2000, it opened with full services on May 5, 2002. But can you imagine a whole building, 4 floors and gardens, dedicated to children's collections? As one of its basic roles it: "works closely with local libraries of Japan and other countries whcih provide direct services for children and supports their activities, serving as a national center supporting research and study on children's literature." On the first floor is the children's area with one huge area housing the resources and the other area housing another collection, specifically for story times with moms and tots or schools. When Ilooked at the first collection, I saw several language collections shelved together and then the Japanese collection with English books within it. As you know, kids will pick up anything that interests them and are intrigued with books in other languages, too. Computers, cds, cloth books, you name it, they are all available. I did see a mom and tots story time group activity in the other room. From one of the librarians, who was shelf reading and talking to people, I received a welcome and a book bag and information in English to take back to Vancouver. Also on the first floor was a tea-room with children's books and activities, facing a stone tiled patio - all in sun and surrounded by gardens. What a great place to spend a day with kids. The second and third floors contain the research collections but are open to all if you have a card. You can easily get one if you are working or living in Japan for any length of time. The fourth floor was a huge, open concept space with an enclosed glass deck. This space is for presentations, workshops and a gathering place for teacher and public librarians. Every room had fresh flowers and ass the equipment and resources you could ever hope for. Oh, and by the way, the Japanese cloth books are exquisite and I am shopping for some to bring home with me. One of the searches I was encouraged to do while I was at the library was to look for picture books published in the year I was born. It was a trip back to the books I read and to those read to me not so very long ago. This library is at Ueno Park,
Tokyo and is in the same area as: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, National Museum of Western Arts, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Ueno Zoological Gardens. See its website at: www.kodomo.go.jp/english/On the way home from the library, back in the subway, I noticed children's artwork displayed along the walls.
I like the idea of literature as diet, don't you? Founded in 2000, it opened with full services on May 5, 2002. But can you imagine a whole building, 4 floors and gardens, dedicated to children's collections? As one of its basic roles it: "works closely with local libraries of Japan and other countries whcih provide direct services for children and supports their activities, serving as a national center supporting research and study on children's literature." On the first floor is the children's area with one huge area housing the resources and the other area housing another collection, specifically for story times with moms and tots or schools. When Ilooked at the first collection, I saw several language collections shelved together and then the Japanese collection with English books within it. As you know, kids will pick up anything that interests them and are intrigued with books in other languages, too. Computers, cds, cloth books, you name it, they are all available. I did see a mom and tots story time group activity in the other room. From one of the librarians, who was shelf reading and talking to people, I received a welcome and a book bag and information in English to take back to Vancouver. Also on the first floor was a tea-room with children's books and activities, facing a stone tiled patio - all in sun and surrounded by gardens. What a great place to spend a day with kids. The second and third floors contain the research collections but are open to all if you have a card. You can easily get one if you are working or living in Japan for any length of time. The fourth floor was a huge, open concept space with an enclosed glass deck. This space is for presentations, workshops and a gathering place for teacher and public librarians. Every room had fresh flowers and ass the equipment and resources you could ever hope for. Oh, and by the way, the Japanese cloth books are exquisite and I am shopping for some to bring home with me. One of the searches I was encouraged to do while I was at the library was to look for picture books published in the year I was born. It was a trip back to the books I read and to those read to me not so very long ago. This library is at Ueno Park, 
Tokyo and is in the same area as: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, National Museum of Western Arts, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and Ueno Zoological Gardens. See its website at: www.kodomo.go.jp/english/On the way home from the library, back in the subway, I noticed children's artwork displayed along the walls.
Huh, I never knew that was there. I always went to the library in Harajuku.
ReplyDeleteApparently there are Chilren's libraries in many places so I will visit when i see one.
ReplyDeleteNational Diet Library, I like the name.
ReplyDelete