Library
The RIKEN Library Facility began its history in 1921, when No. 1 Building (the Chemistry Building) was constructed in Komagome in Tokyo's Bunkyo ward. The very first library was just a room on the first floor of No.1 Building.
Its area was approximately twenty square meters. Later, when No. 2 Building (the Physics Building) was constructed in 1926, the library moved to the third floor of No. 2 Building, and its area expanded to 500 square meters. The institute started moving to its present location in Wako City in Saitama Prefecture in 1963. In the beginning there was no independent building for the library. The present two-story library, built from reinforced concrete, with a total floor area of 1,855 square meters, was completed on 30 November 1972, and the library began its services on 5 March 1973.
Who can use this Library
The following non-RIKEN persons may use the materials, equipment and facilities of the library.
- RIKEN retirees
- Persons with an introduction from a member of RIKEN's staff.
- RIKEN investors or donors.
- Members of other university libraries and institutions who bring a letter from their institution requesting the use of the RIKEN Library.
Holdings
1F
The first floor of the present library contains journals published since 1991, as well as reference books and handbooks. Recently published journals are arranged in the racks of the Reading Room.
The library also holds rare books (approximately 150 Lunge and Schwartz books), such as the following.
| Euclidis Elementorum libri XV (Euclid Geometry) |
by Euclid, Coloniae (1564) |
| Optics |
by Isaac Newton, London (1706) |
B1F
Back number of journals and books (in both Japanese and foreign languages) are stored in movable shelves in the basement.
As of March 2013 the number of journals and books in stock is as follows:
| Foreign Journals |
About 4,700 titles |
| Japanese Journals |
About 1,050 titles |
| Handbooks and Regular Books |
40,886 |
Opening Hours
|
Day
|
Hours |
Reference |
| Mon-Fri |
10:00-17:00 |
10:00-17:00 |
| Sat-Sun, holidays, and RIKEN Foundation Day (4th Monday in October) |
Closed |
Closed |
Attention
- We suggest you confirm holdings in advance by e-mail or FAX.
- Proper procedures must be followed when taking books out of the library.
- Books must be returned by the due date.
- Please return journals to their original racks.
- You may not take belongings inside. Please use the lockers.
- Please prepare change for copying. The cost is 30 yen per page. Please pay at the library reception desk. (Full color copies cost 100 yen)
Contact
Library
TEL: +81-(0)48-467-9289
FAX: +81-(0)48-462-4714
Email: library [at] riken.jp