Kyoto University Library Network

Main Library set July 9 (Wed.) to August 5 (Tue.), 2025 as the preparation period for the examination and will provide special services as follows.

1. 3F Library Hall is available as a study room

Hours are as follows:

• Weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00 a.m. - 30 minutes before the closing time

2. Extension of hours on weekends and holiday (July 19-21, 26-27)

The library will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the following days.

• 7/19 (Sat.)
• 7/20 (Sun.)
• 7/21 (Mon.)
• 7/26 (Sat.)
• 7/27 (Sun.)

For details, please check the Main Library's hours.

3. For non-KU users (including graduates)

Please refrain from entering the library because it is crowded with KU students for the period.
Thank you for your cooperation.

* For service during regular period, please refer to the "Guide for non-KU users" on the Kyoto University Library website.

We renovate the air conditioners on the 3rd and 4th floors from May 26 to June 30, 2025.

During construction, noise may be heard from time to time.
We appreciate your understanding.

* Air conditioning is available on the 3rd floor during construction.

User Support Division, Main Library

Due to aging, the following two copy machines in Main Library will be removed on May 27, 2025.

• 1F Reading Room: Copy card only machine (black and white) ... 1
• B3F Stacks: Copy card only machine (black and white) ... 1

Please use the copy machines in the 1F Reading Room from now on.
(1 copy card only machine (color) and 1 cash only machine (color))

We apologize for this short notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.

User Support Division, Main Library

The service has been restored (2025/04/28/13:00).

As of 9:30 a.m. on April 28, 2025, Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive is unavailable due to trouble.
We are investigating the cause of the failure. We apologize for your inconvenience.

[Digital Archive Section , Main Library]

Main library will hold "Your First Book in KU Library" and "Main Library Self-Tour" for freshers!

We are looking forward to your participation.

●Your First Book in KU Library

What was the first book you borrowed from Kyoto University?

Please submit the title of the first book you borrowed and a brief comment using the webform.
All participants will receive original library goods.
For details, check the poster!

●Main Library Self-Tour

You can study with friends while having discussions, use old materials in the stacks, etc.
There are many ways to use the library!
Let's go around the library with a floor map in hand and get an overview of each area and how to use it!

The starting point is the bulletin board in front of Learning Commons on 1st Floor!
Useful information about using the library is also posted on the bulletin board.

【Contact】
附属図書館利用支援課情報企画掛
Email:ref660(at)mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp

・Those who would like to order documents from other universities (photocopy, loan), please apply by Wednesday, 5 March.
・Those who have borrowed books from other universities, the deadline for returning them is Thursday, 20 March.
・Those who haven't received or paid yet, you should do so as soon as you can.
・If you will be enrolled after April, please indicate that in the comments on your application.

*This news is for users of Kyoto University Main Library.
*The deadline differs for libraries other than the main library. Please check with each library for details.

[Infomation Service Section, Kyoto University Library]

Privacy Booth for one person is newly available in the Learning Commons!
Please use it for online meetings, online interviews, etc.

Starting date

18th February (Tue), 2025

eligible users

Only KU-members

Time limit

Within 3 hours
* Until 30 minutes before the closing time.

How to use

1)  Reserve through KULINE Room Reservation system from 1 week in advance.

2) Come to the library counter. The staff will lend out the key.

3) The key must be returned 10 minutes before the end of use.

Notes

• Number of simultaneous reservations possible is one. If you reserve the Common Study Room or Media Theater, you can not reserve Privacy Booth.
  When making multiple reservations, we will cancel any later bookings.
• Reservations can be changed or cancelled by KULINE Room Reservation system.
• If the key is not received at least 20 minutes after the start time of use, the reservation will be cancelled.

A fire broke out in the reading room on the 2nd floor of Main Library at 2 p.m. on February 6, 2025.

The cause of the fire was a lithium-ion battery. The battery shorted out, exploded and caught fire.

The fire alarm was sounded at 2:02, and the fire was extinguished 3 minutes later. After confirming safety, the library reopened.
No books were burned.

Thank you for the cooperation in firefighting efforts, activating the fire alarm, and evacuation.

7 items including “文机談” from Kikutei Collection held by the Main Library are now available in Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive. 

Kikutei Collection is an assembly of manuscripts and books handed down through the Kikutei Family founded by Kanesue (1281-1339; 兼季), the forth son of Sanekane Saionji (1249-1322; 西園寺実兼). The Kikutei (Imadegawa) Family was designated one of the highest status court families called the Seiga (清華) family which members can be appointed as Daijō-daijin (太政大臣) and served as biwa (Japanese lute) players. The collection includes many records of the court rituals, documents on music and instruments, and diaries hand-written by nobles.
The collection deposited in 1921 and 1923 and additional documents and scrolls of portraits related to the Kikutei Family were donated to the Main Library, Kyoto University by the owner of the collection and were formally registered as the holdings of the library in January 2021.
 

▼Kikutei Collection

Bunkidan (文机談) is a collection of musical stories centered around the biwa (Japanese lute), compiled during the Bun'ei period (1264-1275). The book vividly describes the schools and masters of the biwa, and is an important source for understanding the history of music from the Heian to Kamakura periods. The second volume contains the story of Kamo no Chōmei (鴨長明), who was fond of playing the biwa.
According to the legend of the Kikutei family, the manuscript is considered to be an autograph copy by the author, Bunkibō Ryūen (文机房隆圓). However, it is actually believed to be a transcription from the late Kamakura period, not long after the work’s completion. Among the nine known versions of Bunkidan, the book of the Kikutei Collection is the oldest. Five volumes in five booklets are extant, although some pages are missing.
The second through fifth volumes were written on the reverse side of letters. In the digitization process, we restored the damaged papers, disassembled the books, and digitized all documents written inside of the pages. By making these reverse-side documents publicly available for the first time, it is hoped that further examination will determine the date of transcription in the future.

“文机談” Left: Signature by Ryūen / Right: Beginning of the first volume

In addition, six other titles are also available, including Korefusa Kōki (惟房公記), the autograph diary of Madenokōji Korefusa (万里小路惟房; 1513-1573), a Sengoku period lord, and a floor plan of the Kikutei residence.

“邸宅指図”

As of January 30, 2025, Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive provides 2,154,407 images of 25,517 titles.
 

Main Library set January 13 (Mon.) to February 7 (Fri.),  2025 as the preparation period for the examination and will provide special services as follows.

1. 3F Library Hall is available as a study room(from January 17)

Hours are as follows:

• Weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00 a.m. - 30 minutes before the closing time

2. Extension of hours on January 25-26, February 1-2

The library will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the following days.

• 1/25 (Sat.)
• 1/26 (Sun.)
• 2/1 (Sat.)
• 2/2 (Sun.)

For details, please check the Main Library's hours.

3. For non-KU users (including graduates)

Please refrain from entering the library because it is crowded with KU students for the period.
Thank you for your cooperation.

* For service during regular period, please refer to the "Guide for non-KU users" on the Kyoto University Library website.