Mobile library - Ido toshokan

Also known as a mobile library or traveling library, this is a library that uses a bookmobile (a modified microbus) to transport books and materials to areas with few regular library facilities, hospitals, workplaces, schools, and other organizations, and provides services such as lending and reading advice. In Japan, it is often used as a transitional service until a branch library is established in sparsely populated areas. There are also cases where bookstores provide traveling library services for depopulated areas.

In the mid-19th century in Britain, there were traveling libraries using horse-drawn carriages, while in America, the first was established in 1905 by a library in Maryland. During the war, traveling libraries were also established for the military, but it was only after World War II, when automobile transport developed, that mobile libraries at public libraries became popular. In Japan, the first mobile libraries were established in 1948 (Showa 23) by libraries in Kochi and Kagoshima, and they attracted attention as they realized the ideal of providing materials "anytime, anyone, anywhere," which was the philosophy of early public libraries. In addition to lending, the services offered in various locations included movies, picture-story shows, and even agricultural consultations.

Subsequently, usage rates stagnated due to a lack of books and poor management, but in the second half of the 1960s, a resident-oriented service started by a library in Tokyo restored demand, and now most libraries offer mobile book services, with the total number of bookmobiles reaching 669 nationwide (1999). Demand for mobile libraries is on the rise due to the eagerness of local residents to learn, but at the same time, a lack of books and materials due to budgetary constraints has also been pointed out.

[Kida Junichiro]

"Report on the National Mobile Library Research Conference, edited and published by the Public Library Division of the Japan Library Association (1956)" ▽ "Some Problems Concerning the Management of Mobile Libraries, edited and published by Tokyo Metropolitan Tachikawa Library (1961)" ▽ "Chiba Prefectural Central Library, edited and published, History of the Hikari Mobile Library, 20 Years, edited and published by Chiba Prefectural Library (1970)" ▽ "Gunma Prefectural Library, edited and published, History of the Mobile Library, 20 Years, edited and published by Gunma Prefectural Library (1971)" ▽ "Book Mobiles and Lending Library, by Suzuki Shiro et al., edited and published by Japan Library Association (1972)" ▽ "Chronology of the 30-Year History of the Mobile Library, edited by Yamoto Kiyoshi, edited and published by Tokushima Prefectural Library (1979)" ▽ "Adachi Ward Central Library, edited and published, History of Group Lending of Mobile Libraries, edited and published by Tochigi Prefectural Library (1980)" ▽ "Akebono, Tochigi Prefectural Mobile Library, 30th Anniversary Magazine, edited and published by Tochigi Prefectural Library (1981)" ▽ "Mobile Libraries in Saitama" (1981), edited and published by the Executive Committee of the Saitama National Library Conference. ▽ "Mobile Libraries Subcommittee of the Public Library Division of the National Mobile Library Research Conference, "Current Status and Issues of Mobile Libraries" (1983). ▽ "Mugibue Liaison Council, edited and published, "Aiming to Create a Library for Everyone: 10th Anniversary Edition of the Okegawa City Mobile Library "Mugibue"" (1984). ▽ "Our Library" by Maekawa Tsuneo (1987, Chikuma Shobo). ▽ "Mobile Library Himawari" by Maekawa Tsuneo (1988, Chikuma Shobo). ▽ "Library Handbook," 5th edition, edited and published by the Japan Library Association (1990). ▽ "40 Years of Progress: Aichi Prefecture Mobile Library Records" (1991), edited and published by the Cultural Properties Division of the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. "Hyogo Prefecture Library Association, ed., "Hyogo Prefecture's Mobile Libraries and Collaborative Projects" (1993) " "Naha City Library, ed., "Naha City Mobile Library "Aozora-go" 20-Year History: The Truth Sets Us Free" (1997)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

自動車図書館、巡回文庫ともいう。通常の図書館施設が乏しい地域や病院、職場、学校そのほかの団体向けに、ブックモビル（マイクロバスの改造車）などを用いて図書資料を運搬し、貸出しや読書相談などのサービスを行う図書館。日本では人口密度が薄い地域に、図書館の分館を設置するまでの過渡的なサービスとして行われる場合も多い。なお、書店が過疎地域のために、巡回図書館サービスを行っている例もある。

　イギリスでは19世紀中ごろに、馬車による巡回図書館があったが、アメリカでは1905年メリーランド州の図書館によって創始された。戦中には軍隊を対象とする巡回文庫なども行われたが、公共図書館の自動車文庫が盛んになるのは、自動車輸送が発達した第二次世界大戦後のことである。日本では1948年（昭和23）、高知、鹿児島の図書館によって先鞭(せんべん)がつけられ、初期公共図書館の理念である「いつでも、だれでも、どこでも」という資料提供の理念を実現するものとして注目された。各地で行われたサービスのなかには、貸出しのほか映画や紙芝居、農事相談まで含まれていた。

　その後、図書資料の不足や運営の不備によって利用率は低迷したが、1960年代の後半、東京都下の図書館が始めた住民本位のサービスが需要を回復、現在では大半の図書館が巡回を行い、所有のブックモビルは全国で669台（1999）に達している。地域住民の学習意欲を背景に、移動図書館の需要も高まっているが、一方では予算の制約による図書資料の不足も指摘されている。

［紀田順一郎］

『日本図書館協会公共図書館部会編・刊『全国移動図書館研究大会報告』（1956）』▽『東京都立立川図書館編・刊『移動図書館の運営に関する若干の問題』（1961）』▽『千葉県立中央図書館編・刊『千葉県移動図書館ひかり二十年史』（1970）』▽『群馬県立図書館編・刊『移動図書館20年のあゆみ』（1971）』▽『鈴木四郎他著『ブック・モビルと貸出文庫』（1972・日本図書館協会）』▽『矢本清編『移動図書館30年史年表』（1979・徳島県立図書館）』▽『足立区立中央図書館編・刊『移動図書館団体貸出のあゆみ』（1980）』▽『栃木県立図書館編・刊『あけぼの　栃木県移動図書館三十年記念誌』（1981）』▽『全国図書館埼玉大会実行委員会編・刊『埼玉の移動図書館』（1981）』▽『全国移動図書館研究集会公共図書館部会移動図書館分科会編・刊『移動図書館の現状と課題』（1983）』▽『むぎぶえ連絡協議会編・刊『みんなの図書館づくりをめざして　桶川市移動図書館「むぎぶえ号」10周年記念号』（1984）』▽『前川恒雄著『われらの図書館』（1987・筑摩書房）』▽『前川恒雄著『移動図書館ひまわり号』（1988・筑摩書房）』▽『日本図書館協会編・刊『図書館ハンドブック』第5版（1990）』▽『愛知県教育委員会文化財課編・刊『40年のあゆみ　愛知県移動図書館記録書』（1991）』▽『兵庫県図書館協会編・刊『兵庫県の移動図書館と協力事業』（1993）』▽『那覇市立図書館編・刊『那覇市立移動図書館「青空号」20年の軌跡　真理がわれらを自由にする』（1997）』

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