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1. Introduction
Japan is one of the most literate nations. Japan is always among the top nations in
OECDs PISA. Japan has a number of libraries and book stores. These things are
relatively well known to foreign countries. However, library and information science
education in Japan is not well known. This article describes library and information
science education in Japan, including Japans libraries and library staff.
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The reason that the number of junior college libraries is less than that of the junior
colleges is because some junior colleges are established as annexes of universities and in
those cases, the junior college students are supposed to use the university libraries.
There are 58 technical colleges, having 61 libraries. 4)
Regarding with the library staff in the academic libraries, there are 1,629 full-time
staff working in 293 national university libraries. 1,244 persons out of these staff have
librarians certificate, which is one oriented for public libraries. There are 255 full-time
staff working in 82 prefectural and city university libraries, with 172 staff with
librarians certificate. There are 4,909 full-time staff working in 597 private university
libraries, with 1,981 staff with librarians certificate. There are working 227 full-time
staff working in 214 junior college libraries, with 186 staff with librarians certificate.
There are 69 full-time staff working in 61 technical college libraries, with 42 staff with
librarians certificate.5)
There are 20,980 elementary schools, 10,495 junior high schools, 5,001 senior high
schools, and 2,500 other kinds of schools in 2012. Japan has a School Library Act which
states that a school must have a library. Therefore, every school has some kind of library.
There are 13,543 elementary school libraries (65% of the total) which have teacher
librarians (shisho kyoyu). There are 6,422 junior high school libraries (61% of the total)
which have teacher librarians. There are 4,159 senior high school libraries (83% of the
total) which have teacher librarians. 6)
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librarians under the provisions of next Article.
(3) Those who have three years or more of experience at the following positions and
have completed the training course for librarians under the provisions of next Article.
* assistant librarians
* (omitted) 7)
[Core Courses]
*Lifelong Learning (2 credit)
*Introduction to Library Science (2 credit)
*Library Systems and Management (2 credit)
*Library and Information Technology (2 credit)
*Introduction to Library Services (2 credit)
*Information Services (2 credit)
*Services to Children (2 credit)
*Seminar in Information Services (2 credit)
*Introduction to Library and Information Resources (2 credit)
*Organization of Information Resources (2 credit)
*Seminar in Information Resources (2 credit)
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There are 156 universities and colleges which offer public librarian certificate
programs in 2012. In addition, there are 58 junior colleges which offer the same kind of
programs.9) There are 12 universities and colleges which offer summer intensive
training programs for the public librarian certificate in 2013. There is one junior college
which offers the same kind of program.10)
Considering both the School Library Act and above MEXT s ordinance, a teacher
librarian is a person who has a teachers license and completed ten credit hours of
school librarianship.
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offers the same kind of program.13)
Article 38. 3. A university shall hire professionals and other full-time staff for the
library so that the library can function.14)
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6. Library and Information Science Education as a Professional and Academic
Discipline
There are about 10 universities which offer library and information science
education as a professional and academic discipline. A professional and academic
discipline is meant here that library and information science education is mainly offered
as a major or a department in undergraduate programs or as a graduate program.
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developing the abilities of communication and problem-solving skills through
discussions with incumbent professionals and the faculty. The classes for this degree
program are offered at night. It is difficult for working librarians to earn a master of
library and information science degree because most of the classes for the degree are
offered at the daytime.17) (As online education diffuses in Japan in the future, the
situation will change.)
The required period of attendance for both courses is two years. Students are
conferred a Master's degree when they finish course work by earning 32 credit hours
and submitting Master's theses, which is a common practice in the masters program in
Japan.
Courses for a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science are as follows:
The objectives of the Ph.D. Degree Program are the advancement of library and
information science research and training of researchers. The required period of
attendance is three years. Under the advice of the supervisor, a student prepares for a
dissertation, together with course work with attainment of at least 4 credits each year.
18)
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University of Tsukuba, it is originated in Junior College of Library Science established
in 1964. The Junior College offered information science in 1971, which was called
documentation, at that time. In 1979 the College was restructured into The University
of Library and Information Science (ULIS), a national university. ULIS offered a
masters and doctoral programs in 1984 and in 1999 respectively. ULIS was
consolidated with the University of Tsukuba in 2002, and its name was changed into the
present form in 2006.
The College of Knowledge and Library Sciences, which is an undergraduate program,
has the following three majors:
(1) Knowledge studies (Includes information behavior)
(2) Knowledge systems (Includes information technology)
(3) Information and library management
The College accepts 110 new students every year, which is a fixed number of
students regulated by MEXT. It means that The College has enrolled always about 440
students in the undergraduate program. The College, in addition to bachelors degree,
offers both public librarian and teacher librarian certificate programs.
Concerning about the Graduate School of Library, Information and Media Studies,
the School offers four programs for Master's degrees: MSc program for Informatics, MSc
program for Library and Information Studies, MSc English program for Library and
Information Studies, and MSc Career-up program for Library and Information Studies.
MSc program for Informatics is designed for those who would like to pursue a career in
information system administrators, media creators, and system designers, based on the
training of information technologies. MSc program for Library and Information Studies
is designed for those who would like to pursue not only academic faculty, but also
professional librarians and archivists who are knowledgeable with the issues such as
copyright, privacy, security, information distribution, and related social systems.
MSc English program for Library and Information Studies is designed for
international students who would like to pursue a career in information professionals in
the global context. In particular, this program aims to provide students with an
opportunity to learn Japanese advanced information, knowledge and skills for the
management, and delivery methods of information resources. This is a two-year
program and can be completed in English only.
MSc Career-up program for Library and Information Studies is designed for those
who are currently working in the sector of library & information science and would like
to advance their knowledge and skills. This program is offered for part-time students.
The students in other programs are not allowed to convert to this program due to
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significant difference in the educational system.
Courses for MSc program for Library and Information Studies are as follows:
Core Courses (2 credit)
*Nature of Knowledge and Information
*System Thinking
*Legal Studies on Internet Issues
*Management and Utilization of the Intellectual Property
*History of Libraries and Communication Medias
*Information Seeking and Retrieval
*Theories of Information Behavior
*Professional Communication
*Requirements Analysis and Project Management
*Seminar A (Library and Information Science)
*Advanced Seminar 2 (Library and Information Science)
*Seminar B
*Seminar C
Elective Courses
(20 credit hours of lecture courses are completed among elective courses of the
Graduate School of Library, Information and Media Studies, and at least 12 credit
hours of courses should be taken from a list below which are in the field of Library and
Information Studies)
*Text Analysis
*Digital Documents
*Digital Archiving
*Government Archives and Records Management
*Organization of Information Resources
*Metadata
*Public Management
*Public Libraries
*Library and Information Services in Cultural Diverse Communities
*Administration of Libraries
*Media Education
*Management of the School Library Media Center
*Higher Education and Information Professionals
*Academic Libraries and Information Infrastructure
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*Development of Learning Environment
*Chinese and Japanese Bibliography and Culture
*Classical Documents and Bibliography
The Graduate School of Library, Information and Media Studies offers a corporate
Sponsored Program called as Library Management Course. The primary objectives of
the Course are to enable the students to learn the latest knowledge and technologies
required for library management, services and operations. Seven subjects regarding
library management have been established for the Master's degree program. Those who
earned the masters degrees in this program will develop the knowledge and skills
needed in the management of public libraries, small-to-medium-sized university
libraries, or the management of a department in larger academic libraries. The program
consists of seven 2 credit hours of courses: subjects: 3 basic and four advanced courses.
And the applicants must have public librarians certificates.
Including the students in the Library Management Course mentioned above, there
are 37 students in the masters program and 21 students in the doctoral program in
2013, and a total of 43 faculty teaching both in the undergraduate College of Knowledge
and Library Sciences and in the Graduate School of Library, Information and Media
Studies.19)
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*Introduction to Information Processing
Foundation Courses in the Department of Media and Information (each 2 credit):
(4 credit hours of courses should be completed)
*Introduction to Mass Media
* Introduction to Information Management
*Introduction to Recorded Information
* Introduction to Lifelong Learning
*Basic Designing
*Practicum of Basic Information Technology
*Basic Programming
*Information and Economy
* Information and Mathematics
*Information and Statistics
*Introduction to Constitution
Foundation Courses in the Major (Field) of the Library and Archives (each 2 credit):
(22 credit hours of courses should be completed)
*Museum Exbhition
*Seminar of Information Services I
*Administration of Library and Information Center
*Seminar of Library and Information Systems
*Library and Information Services
*Museums and Information
*Museum Materials
*Archival Studies
*Historical Materials
*Digital Documents and Records Management
*Management of Public Documents
*Seminar of Recorded Information
*Seminar of Information Services II
*School Library Materials and their Organization
*Use of (School) Library Media
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information resources. The total number of the graduate students enrolled in 2013 is 6.
A total of 21 faculty teach both in the undergraduate and graduate programs.20)
The fourth university which offers library and information science education as a
professional and academic discipline is the University of Tokyo. There is Department of
Lifelong Learning Infrastructure Management within School of Education of the
University. The Department consists of two sections of Lifelong Learning and Library
and Information Science. A section of Library and Information Science has three faculty
and enrolled 5 students in the masters degree program and 8 students in Ph. D.
program in 2013. The University of Tokyo has been one of the most productive
universities in educating library and information science researchers and academic
faculty in Japan.21)
6. Kyoto University
The fifth university which offers library and information science education as a
professional and academic discipline is Kyoto University. The University has Faculty of
Education as an undergraduate program and Graduate School of Education as a
graduate program. The Graduate School is made up of eleven Chairs. One of the eleven
Chairs is Lifelong Education and Library and Information Science, which has four
faculty. The program of library and information science education at Kyoto University
offers a masters and doctoral degrees, in addition to .both public librarian and teacher
librarian certificate programs.22)
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librarian certificates.
(4)Library internships for credit as well as job-hunting support are available.23)
6. Kyushu University
The seventh university which offers library and information science education as a
professional and academic discipline is Kyushu University which set up a Department
of Library Science of Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Sciences in 2011. The
University defines Library Science as a science in which researchers research a new
place (called as library) which secures the user-oriented information management and
presentation, and support the creation and inheritance of new knowledge. A library here
is meant a place where a new way of information management and presentation be
researched by an integrated methodology, regardless of the materials whether they are
printed or archives. The Department offers both a masters and doctoral programs,
having 12 faculty in 2013. 24) It is expected that the University will be one of the
leading universities in library and information science education in the future.
There are several other universities which offer library and information science
education as a minor in the disciplinary fields of education, communication, social
information systems, etc.
7. Conclusion
This article described library and information science education in Japan,
including Japans libraries and staff, and indicating that there are many kinds. There
arise several questions. One of them is that there are too many public librarian and
teacher librarian certificate programs, recognizing that the graduates of these programs
cannot find their jobs in the libraries. It is estimated that about 10,000 students earn a
public librarian certificate each year. It is also estimated that only around 200 students
can find positions in the libraries. Although the situation of library positions is such,
Japanese students seem to be somehow interested in the public librarian certificate
programs. And many academic institutions emphasize in their publicity publications
that they offer such certificate program. Why are Japanese students interested in the
Certificate programs? And why do many academic institutions emphasize that they
offer such program? It is hard to answer such question. However, one of the answers
seems to be this. Japanese students are more or less disappointed with their college
education. They would like to earn any certificate, as a kind of evidence of having
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received college education, regardless of whatever certificate it may be. You may ask
why those institutions, which attract many students in their certificate programs, dont
try to raise the level of the programs so that their students will have a better chance to
be employed as librarians. The answer to this question might be this. Those institutions
are not interested in educating future librarians in their programs. They are just
interested in attracting many might-be-freshmen or might-be-freshwomen.
The academic institution which offers such certificate program is required to hire at
least two full-time faculty, according to MEXTs official notice. In other word, MEXT
expects that at least two library science specialists (faculty) teach at the program. And
there are two faculty listed at the official records of most of those institutions. This
means that there are more than 300 faculty who teach at public librarian certificate
programs. However, there are not many faculty who publish academic articles in the
library science related journals. It can be said that the faculty who are not qualified to
teach in the academic program are teaching at many of those certificate programs.
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Notes and References
1) Japan Library Association, Toshokan Nenkan, 2013 (Library Year Book, 2013). JLA,
2013, p. 304.
2) Ibid.
3) Ibid.
4) ibid., p. 324.
5) ibid.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology , Heisei 24 Nendo
Gakujutsu Jouhou Kiban Jittai Chousa Houkoku(Science information infrastructure
statistics of colleges and universities, 2012). 2013, p. 26.
6) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology , Heisei 24 Nendo
Gakkou Toshokan no Genjou ni Kansuru Chousa Kekka ni tsuite GaiyouReport
of Present Conditions of School Libraries, 2012: Summary
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/dokusho/link/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2013/05/16/133
0588_1.pdf> [Nov. 3, 2013]
7) The Library Act before its revision is available in English at the following web site:
Library Law. http://www.jla.or.jp/portals/0/html/law-e.html [Nov. 3, 2013]
8) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, an Ordinace to
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Partially Revise Enforcement Regulation of Library Law.
http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/education/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2009/05/
13/1266312_2.pdf> [Nov. 3, 2013]
9) Toshokangaku Kaikou Daigaku,List of Higher Education Institutions Which
Have Library Science Programs. In: Japan Library Association, Toshokan Nenkan,
2013, op. cit., p.723-31)
10) Heisei 25 Nendo Shisho Shishoho Koushuu Jisshi Daigkau,List of Higher
Education Institutions Which Offer Training Programs. In: Japan Library Association,
Toshokan Nenkan, 2013, op. cit., p.732)
11) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,. Gakkou
Toshokan Sisho Kyouyu koushuu Kitei (Regulations of Training Program for Teacher
Librarians).
http://law.e-gov.go.jp/cgi-bin/idxselect.cgi?IDX_OPT=1&H_NAME=%8Aw%8DZ%90%7
D%8F%91%8A%D9%8Ei%8F%91%8B%B3%97%40%8Du%8FK%8BK%92%F6&H_NA
ME_YOMI=%82%A0&H_NO_GENGO=H&H_NO_YEAR=&H_NO_TYPE=2&H_NO_N
O=&H_FILE_NAME=S29F03501000021&H_RYAKU=1&H_CTG=1&H_YOMI_GUN=1
&H_CTG_GUN=1> [Nov. 7, 2013]
12) Toshokangaku Kaikou Daigaku,List of Higher Education Institutions Which
Have Library Science Programs, op. cit., p.723-31.
13) Heisei 25 Nendo Shisho Shishoho Koushuu Jisshi Daigkau,List of Higher
Education Institutions Which Offer Training Programs, op. cit., p.732.
14) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Daigaku Secchi
Kijun (Standards for Establishment of Universities).
http://www.lawdata.org/law/htmldata/S31/S31F03501000028.html> [Nov. 7, 2013]
15) Keio University, The School of Library and Information Science.
http://www.flet.keio.ac.jp/slis/index_e.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]
16) Keio University, The School of Library and Information Science.
http://www.flet.keio.ac.jp/slis/index_e.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]
17) Keio University, Postgraduate Program.
http://www.flet.keio.ac.jp/slis/eng/postgraduate.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]; (Keio University,
The School of Library and Information Science.
http://www.flet.keio.ac.jp/slis/index_e.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]
18) Keio University, Postgraduate Program.
http://www.flet.keio.ac.jp/slis/eng/postgraduate.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]
19) The University of Tsukuba, Library Information and Media Studies.
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/english/organization/graduate/0307.html> [Nov. 11, 2013];
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The University of Tsukuba, Graduation Requirements/ Instruction System.
http://www.slis.tsukuba.ac.jp/grad/english/education/youken-e.html> [Nov. 11, 2013];
Hirotoyo Ishii, et al., Restructuring Library and Information Science Education toward
Knowledge Informatics Education: A Case of the undergraduate Program at the
University of Tsukuba.
https://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2241/102553/2/Track-A%282%29_2.
pdf> [Nov. 11, 2013];
Tetsuo Sakaguchi, Tsukuba Daigaku ni Okeru Toshokanin Tou no Yousei Kyouiku ni
Tuite (Education and Training of Librarians and Others at the University of Tsukuba).
2010
http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu4/002-1/siryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2
010/06/23/1294408_2_1.pdf> [Nov. 11, 2013];
Japan Library Association, Toshokan Nenkan, 2013, op. cit., p.724.
20) Surugadai University, Faculty of Media and Information Resources.
http://www.surugadai.ac.jp/english/faculty/media.html> [Nov. 9, 2013]; Surugadai
University, Media Jouhou Gakubu Karikyuramu Hyou 2013nendo Gakusei
(Curriculum for 2013-year Students at theFaculty of Media and Information Resources).
http://www.surugadai.ac.jp/gakubu_in/media/curriculum/pdf/curriculum_mjg.pdf> [Nov.
9, 2013];
Surugadai University, Gakuseisuu; Kyouinsuu. 2013. (Numbers of Students and
Faculty, 2013) .http://www.surugadai.ac.jp/about/gaiyo/gakuseisu.html> [Nov. 9,
2013]
21) The University of Tokyo, Welcome to Library & Information Laboratory Graduate
School of Education, University of Tokyo. http://panflute.p.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_E.html>
[Nov. 14, 2013];
Shinji Mine, et al., Nihon no Toshokan Jouhougaku Bunya no Kyouinn no Keireki to
Ronbun Seisansei (Library and Information Science Educators: Academic Qualifications
and Research Productivity), Library and Information Science. No. 55 (2006), p. 71-82.
22) Kyoto University. Graduate School and Faculty of Education, Kyoto University.
http://www.educ.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/> [Nov. 14, 2013]
23) Tsurumi University and Tsurumi Junior College, School of Literature
Undergraduate Schools. http://www.tsurumi-u.ac.jp/e/undergraduate/literature.html>
[Nov. 14, 2013]
24) Kyushu University, Raiburari- Saiensu Gaiyou (A Summary of Department of
Library Science).
http://lss.ifs.kyushu-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/LibraryS_2013.pdf> [Nov. 14,
16
2013]
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