National Diet Library

The National Diet Library (NDL) (国立国会図書館, Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan) is the national library of Japan and among the largest libraries in the world. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the National Diet of Japan (国会, Kokkai) in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the United States Library of Congress.

Quick facts: National Diet Library (NDL), Location, Type, ... ▼

National Diet Library (NDL)
国立国会図書館 (Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan)
Tokyo Main Library of the National Diet Library
35°40′42″N 139°44′39″E
Location	Tokyo, Kyoto, Japan
Type	National Library, Parliamentary Library
Established	1948 (75 years ago) (1948)
Architect(s)	Maekawa Associates, Architects & Engineers
Reference to legal mandate	National Diet Library Law
Branches	27
Collection
Items collected	books, journals, newspapers, electronic archives, manuscripts, official publications, doctoral dissertations, maps, sheet music
Size	41,881,649 items (March 2016)[1]
Criteria for collection	Publications issued in Japan, statutes and parliamentary documents, publications on Japan, reference material, material on science and technology, publications of international organizations and foreign governments, children's literature and related material, Asian works
Legal deposit	legal deposit
Access and use
Access requirements	eighteen years of age or older for the Tokyo Main Library and the Kansai-kan
Population served	members of the Diet (722: fixed number as of Feb. 2009) and the general public
Other information
Budget	JP¥20,163M (FY2008) (US$221M)
Director	Sawako Hanyu (2016)[2]
Employees	908
Website	www.ndl.go.jp/en/

The National Diet Library (NDL) consists of two main facilities in Tokyo and Kyoto, and several other branch libraries throughout Japan.