Theodore F. Welch is professor of Japanese and Head of the Japan Research Office at Northern Illinois University. He holds a MLS from the University of California and a PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Tokyo. He lived in Japan for 14 years and has travelled to and within Japan frequently since 1954. He is the author of numerous articles and three books.

"This is one of the finest books on Japanese libraries and librarianship ever written by an American librarian. Welch lived in Japan for 14 years and has visited Japan many times since to gather data and interview librarians. In ten chapters, he traces the development of the country's library system, covering academic, public, national, special, and school libraries. . . . With an extensive bibliography of English and Japanese sources, this excellent addition to the literature is highly recommended for all library school collections and scholars of international librarianship." - Library Journal

• Preface History of Libraries The National Library Academic Libraries Public Libraries School Libraries Special Libraries Bibliographic Control and Services Automation Professional Organizations Library and Information Science Education Bibliography of Sources Consulted and Cited Index

Theodore F. Welch is professor of Japanese and Head of the Japan Research Office at Northern Illinois University. He holds a MLS from the University of California and a PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Tokyo. He lived in Japan for 14 years and has travelled to and within Japan frequently since 1954. He is the author of numerous articles and three books.

"This is one of the finest books on Japanese libraries and librarianship ever written by an American librarian. Welch lived in Japan for 14 years and has visited Japan many times since to gather data and interview librarians. In ten chapters, he traces the development of the country's library system, covering academic, public, national, special, and school libraries. . . . With an extensive bibliography of English and Japanese sources, this excellent addition to the literature is highly recommended for all library school collections and scholars of international librarianship." - Library Journal

• Preface History of Libraries The National Library Academic Libraries Public Libraries School Libraries Special Libraries Bibliographic Control and Services Automation Professional Organizations Library and Information Science Education Bibliography of Sources Consulted and Cited Index

Theodore F. Welch is professor of Japanese and Head of the Japan Research Office at Northern Illinois University. He holds a MLS from the University of California and a PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Tokyo. He lived in Japan for 14 years and has travelled to and within Japan frequently since 1954. He is the author of numerous articles and three books.

"This is one of the finest books on Japanese libraries and librarianship ever written by an American librarian. Welch lived in Japan for 14 years and has visited Japan many times since to gather data and interview librarians. In ten chapters, he traces the development of the country's library system, covering academic, public, national, special, and school libraries. . . . With an extensive bibliography of English and Japanese sources, this excellent addition to the literature is highly recommended for all library school collections and scholars of international librarianship." - Library Journal

• Preface History of Libraries The National Library Academic Libraries Public Libraries School Libraries Special Libraries Bibliographic Control and Services Automation Professional Organizations Library and Information Science Education Bibliography of Sources Consulted and Cited Index