Download - Public Libraries: Public Music Libraries in Japan — Facts and Figures

Public Libraries: Public Music Libraries in Japan —Facts and FiguresAuthor(s): Heikki PoroilaSource: Fontes Artis Musicae, Vol. 36, No. 2 (April-Juni 1989), pp. 136-139Published by: International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres(IAML)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23507241 .

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136 Further Reports from the 1988 Conferences — Professional Branches

The cataloguing system of the Cherubini Library supplies only the barest minimum

of bibliographical detail. An overview of the material assembled allows us to glimpse in

outline the broad classes of interest formed by the Collection. It comprises MS codices, old and printed editions of musical texts, treatises on music, as well as editions contem

porary with the collector, catalogues, journals and literary varia. Many of these volumes

bear book-plates and dedications arising from the history of the collection. There

are many original sources in the Basevi Collection, for example B. 1306 G.B. Martini

Benedictus for two voices, or B. 1426 G. B. Pergolesi Oratorio for four voices. Basevi's

library is closely related to the bibliographies of his own works, and thus constitutes an

important source for a study of his compositional and musicological writings. Seen in

the light of such considerations the Basevi Collection acquires new significance and

value. Enriched as it is with so many and so important works, consciously and lucidly

stmctured, it seems to me to be one of the miracles of nineteenth century musicology.

Further Reports from the 1988 Conferences in Tokyo, Stockholm & Vienna

Professional Branches

Public Libraries

Public Music Libraries in Japan — Facts and Figures' Heikki Poroila (Esposo/Finland)*'

The Public Libraries Branch of IAML had a special Japanese session in Tokyo. Unfor

tunately not so many participants from Europe and America were present during this

session. Unfortunately, I think, because we heard some very interesting figures and

facts about the situation of public music libraries in Japan. For those collègues who

could not attend, I promised to make a summary of this Japanese session. Both speakers of this public library topic

— Mr. Hiroshi Saito and Miss Shuko Kato — kindly gave me

the permission to use their papers for this purpose. The following tries to sum up the

most interesting parts of what we heard and learned. All the facts are from papers given. If I did not understand all details correctly, I apologise to our Japanese friends.

1. Overview of Japanese public libraries and their music collections

Hiroshi Saito (Shobi College, Kamifukuoka)

A working group of MLAJ (Music Library Association of Japan) has made a statistical survey on musical collections and staff in public libraries in Japan. In July 1988 a

questionnaire was sent to 1694 public libraries (including both main and branch libra

This item is additional to the Branch's Report which appeared in Fontes Aitis Musicae 36/1. Heikki Poroila is Secretary of the Public Libraries Branch.



Fuithei Reports from the 1988 Conferences — Professional Branches 137

ries). MLAJ received an answer from 1645 libraries. The general results of the question naire were these: public libraries in Japan have quite small amounts of printed music, music literature, sound recordings and audiovisual facilities. Staff specialized in music

exists only in a few libraries.

The following tables express more precisely the situation in the public libraries of

Japan.

(a) Books on music

None or not reported 409 libraries (24.9 %) Less than 500 790 libraries (48.0 %) 501 to 5000 413 libraries (25.2 %) Over 5000 33 libraries (1.9 %)

(b) Printed music


(c) Sound recordings


(d) Audio facilities

None or not reported 1070 libraries (65.0 %) 1 to 5 457 libraries (27.8 %) 6 to 20 111 libraries (6.7%) Over 20 7 libraries (0.5 %)

(e) Staff working with music collections

None 1053 libraries (64.0 %) 1 to 5 497 libraries (30.0 %) 6 to 20 39 libraries (2.3%) Over 20 12 libraries (0.7 %)

(f) Staff with higher education or career in music librarianship

None 1631 libraries (99.1 %) 1 to 2 14 libraries (0.9 %)

The background of this not very satisfactory situation was discussed briefly. Of the

possible reasons Mr. Saito named the lack of money for audiovisual materials, rental

shops for records and tapes everywhere in Japan and copyright problems. No doubt these

facts will help MLAJ to develop the music services in Japanese public libraries.



138 Further Reports from the 1988 Conferences — Professional Branches

2. Music materials in Public Libraries in Japan — case reports

Shuko Kato (Keio University, Tokyo)

Four different public music libraries (all from Tokyo district and all quite good ones) were then presented in more detail. But first an important notice. In Japan the term

"public library" means two different kinds of libraries. A koritsu toshokan is estab

lished and maintained by local public organizations according to the Library Law

(1950). A kokyo toshokan is open to the public, too, though maintained by private

persons or associations. Of the four libraries presented here Koishikawa Ward Library and Fuchu City Central Library fall into the category of koritsu toshokan, Min-On

Music Library and Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall Library are kokyo toshokans.

(a) Koishikawa Ward Library

The history of this library goes back to the Meiji period, 1910, but the present building

was established in 1966. From that year on also sound recordings have been available, first for listening and from 1969 also for lending.

Now the Koishikawa Ward Library has the largest collection of sound recordings in

Japan among the koritsu toshokans and it is known as "the audiodisc library". Some

figures from June 1988 may explain the reasons for this opinion:

Audiodiscs 14101 Cassette tapes 1138

Compact discs 738

Music librarians 3

Registered borrowers 9944

The loan period for sound recordings is two weeks. At any one time one can borrow 5

sets of discs and/or tapes. Listening to music at the library is also possible. Koishikawa Ward Library uses 140000 Yen (about 1000 dollars) per month for buying

new sound recordings. In the future this library is going to collect mainly compact discs.

(b) Fuchu City Central Library

This library, established in 1968, is located in a park near Okunitama Shrine. There are

11 branch libraries around, but only this Central Library provides sound recordings for

lending and listening. For about 17000 registered borrowers there is a collection of 5000

cassette tapes and 3500 compact discs, of which 30 % is classical music, 40 % popular and 30% jazz. Over 76000 sound recordings were borrowed in 1987. The busiest days are Saturday and Sunday! The loan period for sound recordings is one week. Three cas

sette tapes and one compact disc may be borrowed at one time, if you are old enough, that means over "junior college".

Three librarians out of eleven are regularly in charge of sound recordings. Also in

Fuchu Library the future plans focus on compact disc collection. Over the next few

years this library promises to provide a collection of 10000 compact discs. Circulation

and cataloguing systems have already been computerized. Printed catalogues of sound

recordings have been made with this system.



Further Reports fiom the 1988 Conferences — Professional Branches 139

(c) Min-On Music Library

This kokyo toshokan, established in 1974, is a part of the Min-On Music Concert

Association, a private organization founded by Mr. Daisaku Ikeda in 1963. The Min-On

Music Library is open to the public free of any charge. Some detailed figures from March

1988 show the range of activities of Min-On Music Library:

Books on music 19648

Scores 33735

Serial publications 145 Records (audiodiscs) 88008

Compact discs 5538

Reproducing piano rolls 728 Ethnic music instruments 230

Records listened to/year 8000

Books and scores borrowed/year 35000

Visitors from 1974 to 1988 153000

The collections cover classical, ethnic and traditional Japanese music, but not popu

lar music. Books and scores are circulated, the sound recordings may be listened to only

at the library. Computers are used in acquisition, circulation and retrieval. A database

of all collections is being planned: at the moment only books and scores are retrieved

by computers.

(d) Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall Library

This library was established as the first special music library in Japan freely open to the

public in October 1961. It is a part of Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall, one of the most

famous concert halls in Japan. It is located in Ueno Park and maintained by the Social

Education Department. The library has collected music books and scores published in Japan. In March 1988

there were 12611 volumes of books and 21308 volumes of scores, 168 titles of serial

publications and hundreds of concert programs from 1961 on. The 38474 audiodiscs and

3034 compact discs contain classical and ethnic music. Also traditional Japanese music

is collected, but not popular music. Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall Library is a

reference library, no part of the collections is free for borrowing.

Bibliothèques de Recherche

En raison de l'absence de nombreux membres occidentaux, une seule réunion avait été

programmée cette année, consacrée aux collections de recherche au Japon.

Shu-ji Lin a tout d'abord donné un aperçu général de la situation et présenté son insti

tution, le Centre de documentation de la musique japonaise moderne de Tokyo. Ce

centre, créé en 1986 et spécialisé dans la musique japonaise depuis la fin du XIXe siècle, est à la fois une bibliothèque, riche de 21000 documents environ, et un lieu de rencon

tres et d'animation qui organise concerts, expositions et conférences.

Mitsue Masaki (Showa Academia musicae de Tokyo) a ensuite parlé de la biblio

thèque musicale Nanki et de sa principale collection, la collection W. H. Cummings.

Ce fonds, qui rassemble une partie significative de la bibliothèque du musicologue et biographe anglais de Purcell, est particulièrement riche en documents sur la musi

que anglaise (plus de 400 pièces) et contient entre autres des manuscrits de Purcell,

Handel ... ainsi que plusieurs copies manuscrites du XVille siècle.



Download - Public Libraries: Public Music Libraries in Japan — Facts and Figures

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