The 107th All-Japan Library Conference (2021)

【2022-E001】

The 107th All-Japan Library Conference was held by the Japan Library Association (JLA) in Yamanashi Prefecture from November 11 to 12, 2021. Just like last year, all events were held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The slogan of this year’s conference was “At the Crossroads of Inter-Connecting Knowledge.”

Most major events at the conference, including the keynote speech by JLA Chairperson UEMATSU Sadao and a commemorative dialogue between HORIUCHI Marue, chair of the Board of Directors of Shueisha Inc., and KINDAICHI Hideho, director general of the Yamanashi Prefectural Library as well as almost all the presentations and reports given at the section meetings were accessible via video streams, some of which were broadcast live. These video streams all remained available until December 31, 2021.

Next year’s conference will be held online in Gunma Prefecture from October 6 to 7, 2022.

Here are summaries of presentations related to library services for children and young adults from three section meetings.

Section Meeting 3—School Libraries

[1] Elementary & Junior High School Libraries

Creating School Libraries That Support Learning and Nurture the Mind

SUGIMOTO Hiroshi, an elementary school teacher-librarian as well as the secretary of the Yamanashi School Library Education Research Association delivered a keynote speech. He suggested ways for school libraries to support “Proactive, Interactive and Authentic Learning,” as referred to in official MEXT guidelines. He also gave a detailed report on teaching Japanese to 3rd-grade elementary-school pupils with the school library.

Fujiyoshida City Shimoyoshida Higashi Elementary School reported on school library activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Yamanashi School Librarian Research Association presented the results of a survey of elementary and junior-high school libraries in Yamanashi describing school library activities during the pandemic.

[2] High School Libraries

The Potential of School Libraries during the Pandemic

Yamanashi Prefectural Hokuto High School reported coordination between local public libraries and elementary, junior-high and high schools. Yamanashi Prefectural Kofu Minami High School reported the activities at high school libraries in Yamanashi during the pandemic.

Section Meeting 4—Library Services for Children

Connecting Children with Books in a Time of Change

JLA Children and Youth Committee Chair SHIMA Hiroshi presented data on and examples of how library services for children have changed in Japan. He emphasized the importance of librarians dealing with children individually and the value of human interaction.

Reports from librarians as three different libraries were presented: book loans and digital library services during the pandemic at Hiroshima Prefectural Library, the Apple Bookshelf at the Kawagoe City Takashina Library, and the children’s reading club at the Koshu City Katsunuma Library.

Discussions by the speakers and Q&A session with participants in this section meeting were live streamed.

Section Meeting 5—Special Libraries

Special Libraries for Children and Adults—Providing Local Materials

Yamanashi Children’s Library, an organization with no library facilities, reported on training events and meetings held since its inception in 2005. Tokyo Children’s Library presented a demonstration of storytelling events after describing its development from the Bunko home library. Koshu City Enzan Library Branch, Kanzo Yashiki Children’s Library reported on its historic building and distinctive activities.

Ref:

(2022.3.20 update)
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