Japan-China University Library Forum 2015

The Japan-China University Library Forum 2015, cohosted by Tokyo Institute of Technology Library and the Japan Science Society, was held on June 30. A delegation of thirty-five Chinese university library directors and assistant directors attended the forum. The group was headed by Director Jin Chen of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library, a Tokyo Tech graduate.

The Institute's Executive Vice President for Education and International Affairs Toshio Maruyama and Chairperson Mieko Oshima of the Japan Science Society opened the forum. Two keynote speeches and four lectures by library directors, assistant directors, and researchers about the "Transition and development of university libraries" were followed by general discussions.

• Keynote speeches

• The Future of University Libraries — Focus on education and learning support
  Hiroya Takeuchi
  Vice President and Library Director, Chiba University

• Forward Looking for Transition Creatively
  Jin Chen
  Director, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library

• Lectures

• Learning commons and student library assistants
  Saori Donkai
  Associate Professor, Faculty of Library Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba

• Action Plan 2014-2018：Peking University Library
  Liqian Bie
  Assistant Director, Peking University Library

• EJ in the research universities of Japan
  Eiichi Takahashi
  Director, Tokyo Institute of Technology Library
  Professor, Graduate School of Science and Engineering

• A summary on the status of donation books of Japan Science Society in universities of Dalian area and suggestions
  Haitian Yang
  Director, Dalian University of Technology Library

Keynote speeches

Lectures

Associate Professor Saori Donkai from the Faculty of Library Information and Media Science at the University of Tsukuba talked about the status and challenges posed by learning commons, and the significance of and business solutions derived from the utilization of student assistants.

Director Eiichi Takahashi from Tokyo Institute of Technology Library spoke about electronic journals, the basis of academic information in Japanese research universities.

Assistant Director Liqian Bie from Peking University Library gave a lecture on the library trends at Chinese higher education facilities, and outlined the 5-year action plan being implemented at Peking University Library.

Director Haitian Yang from Dalian University of Technology Library gave an overview of the book donation project conducted by the Japan Science Society and made proposals for future activities.

Approximately 80 participants from China and Japan attended the forum. In the general discussions, many questions and opinions were raised, particularly by participants from China. Discussions continued past the scheduled ending time, demonstrating the high level of interest in the operation of Japanese university libraries.

Delegation head and Tokyo Tech alumnus Chen and Executive Vice President Maruyama during the delegation's courtesy call

This article has been updated to correct a keynote speech title on September 4.