History of Kyoto Prefectural Library

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【History of Kyoto Prefectural Library】

June 1873 - March 1882	Kyoto Prefecture opened Shushoin Library on the west side of Sanjo Takakura. Total floor space was 16,500 m². This library was the Predecessor of the Prefectural Library.
	Shushoin Library: The first public library opened by local government in Japan.
	This is a part of the male and female phoenix picture (houozu) that was used as a ceiling painting at the Shushoin.
February 1877	Royal visit by Meiji Emperor.
June 1898	Opening of "Kyoto Prefectural Library." (By renting 280 m² of space of the east building of the Exhibition Association (Association Office of the Exhibition) at the Kyoto Imperial Palace) First Director: Miyake Goro Saburo
October 1903	Traveling library system begun
March 1904	Yuasa Kichiro became the fourth director.
	Yuasa Kichiro: In 1902, when he was a teacher at Kyoto University, he studied at a school of library science in the US. Yuasa was appointed director by Governor Omori, and contributed to library management with a number of pioneering achievements until his retirement in 1916. He was also acknowledged as a man of letters, author of New-style (shintai) Poetry, and Heike biwa (Japanese lute) player under the name Yuasa Hangetsu , and famous writers and intellectuals visited him very often.
October 1904	Creation and introduction of "Wakantosho bunruihou(Classification of Japanese & Old-Chinese Books)."
April 1905	Children's room set up and opened to the public free of charge.
November 1905	Governor Omori made a proposal to build a memorial library for the Russo-Japanese War victory, which was passed by the Prefectural Assembly.
April 1909	"Kyoto Prefectural Library" opened in Okazaki with 50,000-volume collection. It was designed by Takeda Goichi. Art- and artifact-related books were exhibited as an opening memorial in a show room on the third floor.
	General Description: A three-story, brick building with total floor space of 2,500 m². Reference rooms for general and specialty fields, drawings, newspapers, women, and children. Two showrooms on the third floor also used as lecture and study rooms. Gallery held exhibitions such as Takehisa Yumeji's first (1912) and second (1918) exhibitions, and Kishida Ryusei's exhibition in 1920. Both Taisho and Showa Emperors visited during their times as crowned prince.
1912	Exhibits books related to the geography and history of Kyoto (Original materials for "Kyoto-Sosho" published from 1914 to 1916.)
	Brother of Mori Ogai, Mori Junzaburo worked as staff at the Kyoto Prefectural Library from 1909 to 1917. At the Mori Ogai Kinenkan(Mori Ogai Memorial Museum), his letters responding to Ogai's references are preserved.
January 1919	Editing of catalogue for book collections "Wakantosho mokuroku(Catalog of the Japanese & Old-Chinese Books)" begun.
April 1919	Dyeing related-books exhibition held in cooperation with the National Dyeing Exhibition (Zenkoku senshoku hakurankai)
March 1925	Children's room closed and changed to stacks.
April 1928	Loaning to individuals begun.
October 1933	Designated Kyoto Prefectural Central Library. Show room changed into stacks.
July 1936	Three year reconstruction and expansion plan passed the Prefectural Assembly. (However, cancelled due to outbreak of war with China (Nisshi Jihen).
May 1941	Reopened children's room.
June 1949	Kawaramachi Branch Library opened. (Closed September 1956).
February 1950	Fushimi Branch Library opened. (Closed March 1988).
June 1950	Miyazu Region Branch Library opened. (Closed March 1997).
July 1950	Ayabe Region Branch Library opened. (Closed September 1966.) Mineyama Region Branch Library opened. (Closed March 1997.)
April 1951	Kamigyo Branch Library opened. (Closed May 1976.)
	Krueger Library: Private, public library managed by a non-profit corporation from 1946 to 1949. Built as a free public library before CIE libraries were opened across the nation under US occupation. A collection of books was donated to Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education and used at the Kamigyo Branch Library. Presently, this collection is preserved by the Prefectural Library.
July 1952	Sonobe Region Branch Library opened. (Closed November 1966.) Kitakuwata Region Branch Library opened. (Closed March 1980.) Kizu Region Branch Library opened. (Closed March 1975.)
September 1954	"Kyoto Prefectural Library Fine Books Catalogue" prepared.
June 1957	Nakagyo Branch Library opened by taking over administration of Kawaramachi Branch Library. (Closed March 2001.)
March 1963	A huge portion of books transferred to the Kyoto Prefectural Sogo Shiryokan.
November 1966	Bookmobile service began. (Bookmobile "Ayumi")
March 1983	" Kyoto-fu no Kokyo-Toshokan (Public Libraries in Kyoto Prefecture)" published.
June 1983	Full-scale operation of cooperative service between libraries begun.
August 1986	The superintendent of the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education requested the Prefectural Continuing Education Committee to inquire the topic of "Ideal Libraries of Kyoto Prefecture to Promote the Lifelong Education of the Community".
March 1988	"Public Libraries in Kyoto Prefecture 1987 edition" published.
March 1990	"Tenji・Rokuontosho　Mokuroku (Braille and Audio Library Catalogue (Braille version) )"published.
April 1990	"Cooperative Circulation Car" service started.
December 1990	Bookmobile service concluded.
March 1993	"Public Libraries in Kyoto Prefecture 1992 edition" published.
January 1995	Main building severely damaged by the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake.
December 1995	The Kyoto Prefectural Continuing Education Committee submitted a report on "Ideal Libraries of of Kyoto Prefecture to Promote the Lifelong Education of the Community" to the superintendent of Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education.
March 1996	Projected expenses for the New Prefectural Library appropriated the amount alloted in the 1996 budget.
September 1996	Outline of basic plans for building new prefectural library announced.
April 1997	The main library building closed due to preparation for construction of new building at the present site
September 1997	The main library office moved to temporary facility. Computerization of book catalogues begun. Development of Kyoto Prefectural Library Information Network System begun.
November 1998	New prefectural library construction started.
October 2000	New Prefectural Library completed.
November 2000	Offices moved from temporary facility to new building. Moving of books from temporary facility and the Prefectural Sogo-Shiryokan begun. Receiving application for Kyoto Prefectural Library General Catalogue Network begun.
May 2001	New Prefectural Library opened.