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Libraries |
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The libraries of Meiji University play a central role in the educational
and research activities of the University. These institutions systematically collect,
maintain, and make available materials that are indispensable for the education and
research activities of students and staff. The libraries of Meiji University are comprised
of the main library at the Surugadai Campus, the Izumi Library for humanities and social
science freshmen and sophomores at the Izumi Campus, and the Ikuta Library for students
in the Schools of Science and Technology and Agriculture at the Ikuta Campus.
As of March 2004, the libraries contain approximately 2,050,000 books, 21,000 newspapers,
journals, and other periodicals, as well as a collection of numerous materials on microfilm,
microfiche, and CD-ROM. The library catalogue has been made into a database, and can be
searched not only from terminals connected to the library computer,
but also via the Internet.
In March 2001, the Central Library was completed and opened. The new library,
comprising one ground floor and three basement floors, has a huge vaulted ceiling
ranging from the basement to the ground floor, and a bright and open structure
illuminated by natural lighting. In order to keep up with the networks academic
information distribution environment that is expanding and spreading steadily,
the library has a Multimedia Area equipped with computers hooked to the Internet
and computers for searching CD-ROM materials. It is also equipped with about 640
information outlets; mobile information equipment can be used in most
parts of the library.
The Izumi Library has a wide collection of study books for humanities and social science,
most of which are placed in the Reading Room as “open access books” so that students can
use the library as if they were looking at a book in a bookshop. The Ikuta Library has a
large collection of natural science materials. Like the Central Library, both libraries are
equipped with information devices to allow use of the Internet by the mobile information
equipment via information outlets.
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 In recent years,
libraries have been their enhancing electronic library functions. For examples, there
has been expansion of the use of subscription databases on the Internet and reading
of academic papers and online journals via the network. Furthermore, the university’s
rare book collections such as the Ashida Antique Book Collection comprising numerous old
maps, the Japan Modern Literature Collection, and the information unique to the Meiji
University library such as library bulletin the "Tosho no Fu" (Manual of Books), and
the library newsletter are being computerized and one after the other displayed
on the Internet.
The Meiji University libraries also are members of the Yamanote Line private
university library consortium with the libraries of the seven major universities
Aoyama Gakuin University, Gakushuin University, Kokugakuin University, Toyo University,
Hosei University, Meiji Gakuen University, and Rikkyo University, allowing mutual use of
libraries including the loaning of books. This means that students are able to use the
materials of eight libraries including the 12 million books in total of all these
universities, and students have access to a giant library in addition to the use of
each library individually. |
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 As part of
regional cooperation, the Meiji University Library in March 2002 signed a mutual
cooperation agreement with the Chiyoda Ward Library, allowing registered library users
living in Chiyoda ward, in which the Surugadai Campus is located, free access to the Meiji
University Library. Further, in July 2004, Meiji University’s Izumi Library was instrumental
in the inauguration of the “Suginami Library Network”. This is a similar mutual cooperation
agreement between the Suginami Ward Library and the five universities located within the
Suginami Ward. Meiji University plans to consider various endeavors aiming at an even more
open library. |
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