In the age of digital media, a library may seem like a relic of the past. But in Japan, libraries with privately owned bookshelves offer a unique experience that is unlike anything else.
Private libraries are becoming increasingly popular in Japan, with around 50 such facilities now established across the country.
These libraries are helping to revitalize local communities by creating places where people can meet and interact through events.
The first library with private bookshelves was opened in March 2020 in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The Minna no Toshokan Sankaku library now has around 3,000 books, with the majority brought in by bookshelf owners who pay ¥2,000 a month to rent a bookshelf.
Bookshelf owners also play an active role in library operations, including being at the library to assist visitors. This setup helps to keep costs down, as there is no need to hire any additional staff.
The Yaizu library has become a popular gathering place for people in the community, and has helped to bring people back to the once-deserted shopping street.
Local government officials from other parts of Japan have also visited the library to learn more about how it could be used to revitalize their own communities.
Don’t you think private libraries are an ingenious idea? They provide a place for people to come together, learn from each other, and share their love of books.
The idea of private libraries is especially relevant in the digital times. Some book lovers have vast collections of print books but also read more and more ebooks.
Your bookshelves in the living room are filled with beautiful books, but how many of them will you actually reread? Private bookshelves in a local library near you could give your books a second life.
Source: Libraries with individually owned bookshelves spreading in Japan – The Japan Times
Leave a Reply