The Proposals for Legislating the University Librarian System in Japan and Distinctive Features of the University-related Laws and Regulations, 1952-1965

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal the influence of distinctive features of the university-related laws and regulations on the proposals for the university librarian system and university libraries, during the period of the movement for legislating the system in Japan, 1952-1965. This study marshalled the proposals, examined the university-related laws and regulations, and analyzed the relationship between those proposals and the laws and regulations. The paper showed the following five items as influencing distinctive features of the university-related laws and regulations. (1) The contradiction between the proposal that all universities must appoint eligible personnel to Special Librarians at their libraries and respect for autonomy in a university; (2) the necessity for university libraries to negotiate with university administrators and to obtain their approval regarding implementation of the appointment to Special Librarians; (3) the appropriateness of the interpretation that Special Librarians at a university library are "necessary staff" as defined by the university-related laws and regulations; (4) restrictions on the functions of the university library as an organization under the university-related laws and regulations; and (5) the necessity for a consistent definition for Special Librarians' research competency with eligibility rules for them. From the above, it is shown that distinctive features of the university-related laws and regulations were one of the factors that worked against the proposals for legislating the university librarian system.