Characteristics of Japanese National University Libraries after the Incorporation from the Viewpoint of Organizational Form

Abstract

　This study aims to clarify the characteristics of Japanese national university library organizations that have changed due to the national university reforms in the early 2000s from the viewpoint of typology. We classified the current national university library organizations into eight categories and identified their characteristics. From the characteristics of organizational classification, we found that the organizations have diversified; 1) organizations that continue the pre-incorporation structure, 2) organizations that have integrated with other departments within the university, 3) organizations that are responsible for additional non-library services. In addition, from the comparing of the pre- and post-incorporation periods and analyzing of the size of universities based on their number of faculties, we revealed while large national universities (8 or more faculties) continued to maintain their preincorporation organizational structure, small or medium-sized universities (7 faculties or less) merged with other departments of university office, reduced the number of managers and downgraded librarian management positions as a result of the mergers. Finally, we found that most of these organizational restructurings have been carried out for the purpose of streamlining and consolidating operations throughout the university.