Library and Information Science

Kyushu University has completed a new central library building in the main campus in order to accomodate more books and periodicals, to serve rapidly increasing number of students, to cope effectively with change in composition of the campus, and to satisfy demands of users who had long been complaining of old and inflexible library facilities and services.

Because of the sensitive nature of the problems such as a proposed building site and a proposed new library system, negotiations at an opening stage had to be planned and conducted with care, endurance, and insight.

This is a report of how library directors and staff members overcame administrative difficulties to attain planned objectives.

The new library building was completed on November 10th, 1972, along with the old one that was reshaped to function as a deposit library of the University.

The University architect was rewarded a 1973 “Shisetsu-geppo sho”, a prize given for an excellent national educational building in Japan.

The building data are as follows:

• Term of works: December 28th, 1971 to November 10th, 1972.
• Architect: Building office, Kyushu University, Fukuoka.
• Adviser on library functions: Koji Nagao, Tohoku University Library, Sendai.
• Number of persons to be served: 5,500 students and 1,000 researchers.
• Area: 8,060 square meters (86,670 square feet) with two tiers stack areas. Approximately 2,200 square meters (23,660 feet) on each of the three floors, lower floor being on ground level.
• Stack capacity: 500,000 volumes in stack areas and 50,000 volumes in reading areas.
• Seating capacity: 721 seats, including 47 carrels.