UW Libraries now provides access to Japan’s National Diet Library (NDL) Digitized Contents Transmission Service for Libraries, significantly expanding access to Japanese research materials that have been difficult to consult from outside Japan.
The National Diet Library has digitized a vast range of materials from its collections. While many are freely available online, copyright restrictions have limited access to others to the NDL or participating libraries. The Digitized Contents Transmission Service for Libraries was established to make out-of-print and other difficult-to-obtain digitized materials available through authorized libraries. The service currently provides access to more than 2 million digitized items, including books, periodicals, and other materials, many of which are not otherwise available online. It also includes materials that may not be available through conventional interlibrary loan, including rare or fragile items.
With UW Libraries now participating in the service, eligible users can view these restricted digitized materials at a designated workstation in the Tateuchi East Asia Library. Printing of eligible materials is also available upon request. Because access must be provided through a designated terminal under library supervision, an advance appointment is required.
This new service will be particularly valuable for research requiring older or difficult-to-obtain Japanese publications that previously required a visit to the National Diet Library or another participating institution.
For eligibility, instructions, and request forms, please visit the UW Libraries guide:
National Diet Library Digitized Contents Transmission Service at UW