Names, Organization and History

The main library and the Resources and Historical Collections Office(Shiryo-shitsu)

  • On the first of April in 2010, this library has changed its official Japanese name from Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku-bu Toshokan (‘The Faculty of Economics Library, the University of Tokyo”) to the Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku Toshokan (“The Library of Economics, the University of Tokyo”); of note the English name had always been the ‘Library of Economics’ and thus no changes were made.  At the same time, we also opened the Resources and Historical Collections Office (Shiryo-shitsu) in the Economic Research Annex (Kojima Hall) as an addition to the existing library above.  With these changes, general research books and periodicals are now studied in the main library in the Akamon General Research Building, while special collection items such as classical books, public/private historical documents and artifacts are studied in the Shiryo-shitsu.
  • Since there are two locations with different collections and usage guidelines, we have different names for the two – the main library (the previous Library Section, located in the third floor of the Akamon General Research Building) and the Shiryo-shitsu (in the third floor of the Economic Research Annex or the Kojima Hall).  Please note, within this website the term “the Library of Economics, the University of Tokyo” is used as a collective name of the two libraries.
  • The hours and usage guidelines differ between the main library and the Shiryo-shitsu.  For more information, please see the Usage Guidelines.
  • It is a 5 minutes’ walk between the two locations.  Please click on the map on the right for more details.

The organization of the Library of Economics, the University of Tokyo

組織図_eng - 改訂The History of the Library of Economics, the University of Tokyo

1900

April

Acquisition of “Engel’s Library”

May

Economic Statistics Seminar formed in the College of Law

1913

Sept.

The Commercial Materials Library (“Shogyo Shiryo Bunko”) was founded in the Economic Statistics Seminar

1919

April

The Faculty of Economics was founded by separating the Department of Economics and the Department of Commerce from the College of Law and consolidating the two.

1920

Dec.

Adam Smith’s Library, with 141 titles, 308 volumes, was donated by then-Professor Nitobe Inazo

1923

Sept.

The Economics Statistics Seminar Room is burnt down due to the Great Kanto Earthquake.

1927

Oct.

A collection of historical coins donated by Fujii Eisaburo is brought in

1929

Feb,

A collection of historical bills donated by Yasuda Zenjiro is brought in

1939

April

The Commercial Materials Library is expanded, and the Economic Documents Office is founded.

1945

Feb.

A part of the collection, mainly rare books, is evacuated to rural areas

1965

Aug.

The current library facilities are completed when phase I constructions of the Faculty of Economics Building (Currently called the Akamon General Research Building) are finished

1982

Nov.

The Japanese name is changed from Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku-bu Toshoshitsu (‘The Faculty of Economics Library Room, University of Tokyo”) to the Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku-bu Toshokan (‘The Faculty of Economics Library, the University of Tokyo”)

2004

March

In conjunction with retrofitting buildings to be earthquake-resistant, major renovations on library facilities are completed

2005

March

Micro-media Storage Facilities completed

2009

April

The Economic Documents Office and the Historical Documents of Economics are consolidated to form the Resources and Historical Collections Office

July

The Economic Research Annex (Kojima Hall) is completed

2010

Feb

The Resources and Historical Collections Office is relocated to the Kojima Hall

April

The official name is changed from Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku-bu Toshokan (‘The Faculty of Economics Library, the University of Tokyo”) to the Tokyo Daigaku Keizaigaku Toshokan (“The Library of Economics, the University of Tokyo”)

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