The Future of Library DX and the Humanities in Japan

Abstract

　Since the establishment of the Digital Agency in September 2021, there have been significant developments in the digital transformation (DX) of information and resources in Japan. The revision of copyright laws, the transition of national archives documents to digital management, the incorporation of digital archives into museum operations, and the enabling of text search capabilities within the National Diet Library's digital collection are among the notable changes. In this context, the National Institute of Japanese Literature is actively advancing the “Project for Creating Problem-Solving Humanities by a Data-Driven Approach”. This initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of humanities research with other academic fields and to foster problem-solving approaches within humanities studies. Various libraries across the country are positioned not only as contributors of materials to such humanities projects but also as platforms for utilizing accumulated digital information and research outcomes. This paper highlights the potential for Japanese humanities to establish new relationships with society through these means.