Rare Books
About rare books in the General Library
Materials with call numbers that begin with "A00" and "A05" (Japanese books) and "A100" and "A150" (foreign books), and records of 50-year history of Imperial University of Tokyo are treated as rare books.
Access to these books is only permitted under the following condition and by following the required process.
- You may browse the rare books only when there is special necessity. If there are microforms or digitized data, these are what you should use unless there is a specific reason to use the original.
- You need an advance reservation to browse rare books. Requests to access rare books will not be accepted without advance reservation.
Trems of use
- You can only use rare books if you specifically require the original. If digital data, microfilm, or other copies are available, please use those unless there is a special reason not to. Please refer to the following links for digital data and other copies of some rare books.
- General Library > User Guide > Microforms > Microforms List
- Digital Collection
- Union Catalogue Database of Japanese Texts (National Institute of Japanese Literature) >
- General Library, the University of Tokyo (black and white photographs) List
- General Library, the University of Tokyo (color photographs) List
- General Library, the University of Tokyo Akiba Bunko (black and white photographs) List
- General Library, the University of Tokyo Shachiku, Chikurei and Chiju Collections (black and white photographs) List
- If you see a "Link" button on the OPAC like the one below, you can use the digital image at the link.
Browse
- Present the duplicate of your submitted application form along with the reply from the Reference & ILL Section at Service Counter.
- Hours: from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays (closed from 12:00 to 13:00)
- Only notebooks and valuables (wallet) may be brought to the reading room. Pencils and a measuring tape are equipped.
Photocopying
- Order photocopies of rare books at Service Counter. This takes at least a few weeks.
- Readers may take photographs of materials for their personal use.
- Up to 10 pictures
- Application at the counter is required.
Process
Please click "Apply" below.
- Send the form by 17:00 three business days before the desired date of your appointment.
Note: A form submitted on a Saturday, Sunday, or national holiday will be treated as received on the next business day. - If you do not know the call number or the bibliographic information of the material you wish to examine, contact the General Library Inquiry Form.
- Volume limit: 5 volumes at one time; 10 volumes in one day.
- If you would like to apply by mail or fax, please visit this page.
