Promotion and Challenges of Digitization of Library Services at Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan

Abstract

Astellas Pharma Inc. has been consolidating its global library functions and integrating its library portal site since 2017. Together with libraries in Europe and the United States, which are advancing countries in digitization, we are converting to a virtual library. In Japan, we are consolidating our physical libraries and switching from paper to electronic resources. We will report on the digitization rate of the collections, the rate of new purchases of electronic versions, and the cost of digitization. The reasons for the delay in digitization of academic books in Japan will be considered, and issues and requests for the promotion of digitization will be mentioned. We will also touch on changes in user awareness and the social environment due to the impact of COVID-19.