Mr. Kawai, professor of Rikkyo University, received doctoral degree in education from Tokyo University by The history of book selection of book selection theories in America. In 1988 he won the prize of Japan Society of Library Science by the said book.
In this paper, the first chapter sums up the characteristics and significance of the book. In chapter 2 and after, the problems in Mr. Kawai's explanation of the theories are discussed by referring to those of Melvil Dewey and William Brett. Mr. Kawai's explanations are somewhat contradictory to the general idea of the library of Dewey and Brett, In the last chapter some problems are raised concerning the relationship between book selection theories and library history.

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(II)-In: Vol. 90. pp. 68-71
Third chapter describes the situations in the Leipzig, Halle and Jena University Libraries which were influential models for the Göttingen University Library.
At the time of the foundation of Göttingen University, every effort was made to take in the very best things about the existing universities such as those three flourishing then with a view to create a most modern university. Though the above three universities were regarded as the most extensive and important in Germany, by the first half of the 18th century, Jena University reached the pinnacle of its fame through its modernization based on the polyhistoric current.
A representative example of modernization in Jena was the university library. There was an attempt at transforming that old style deposit-type library to a new one to provide facility to readers like “professors and students”. Activities such as giving a lecture on the use of library were also carried out at the same time. By and by Jena University has earned the reputation of being a university with highest scientific standard and equipped with the best library in Germany. On the other hand, academic development of Halle University and Leipzig University was disturbed due to theological polemics and the neglect of library.

(III)-In: this volume
Fourth chapter explains how the Göttingen University Library was founded under the influence of many polyhistoric counsellors including professors at Jena, Halle and Leipzig Universities and others. Also mentioned there is the process of development starting from the second half of the 18th century and continuing till the 19th century which started by following the example of the Jena University Library and in due course overtaking it to become the best and ideal library in the whole of Europe praised for being “Wahres Muster für alle ähnliche öffentliche Bibliothek”.
The characteristics to take note of at the time of its foundation are as follows:
1) From the very beginning an epoch-making importance was attached to the library in the academic life of the new university just as the library played a crucial part in the polyhistoric life-style.
2) The idea of modern university and university library was adopted and codified at the opening of the Göttingen University.
3) This library was opened not only for the professors and students of the university, but also for all intellectuals including officials and teachers.

In the 19th century other university libraries were also reformed in Germany after the Göttingen University Library by referring to its regulations or to what was learned through the visits there. As a result, all the modern university library systems have come to be based on the above three principles set out by the Göttingen University Library.

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The purpose of this article is to think of Kumagusu Minakata's experience at first hand in the British Museum, what did mean for the development of the libraries in Japan by his experience.
In the 20th year of Meiji, he went over to Ameriac. He was apploied to the business college for admission at that place. Shortly after he left the business college owing to personal circumstances. He studied by himself in the libraries according to his preference for five years.
Thereafter he went over to England. He lived in lodging low rent. He studied by himself in the museums and libraries in common with american life. He published the results, “The constellations of the far east”, of his research work in a weekly science magazine “Nature”. His work was favorably commented popularly. As for that, he could take a chance to work at the British Museum. The British Museum is a vast treasure-house of knowledge for him, he made efficient use of materials very widely. He was dismissed the British Museum becaused of using of his 2th violence behavior.
Of that days, he often act as a guide for influental Japanese, for example Yorimichi Tokugawa, to the British Museum. He did not publish the results of his research about a library science in all his life, but he learned library science from the British Museum as a modernizing library. He had most knowledge of libraries, Kumagusu imparted knowledge of his experience at his first hand to Yorimichi Tokugawa.
Yorimichi Tokugawa tried every means in his power for development growth of the libraries, as a beginner the Nanki Library and a governor the Japan Libraries Association, being affected by Kumagus Minakata's influence.
Kumagusu Minakata's experience at his first hand in the British Museum contributed to development growth of the libraries by the medium Yorimichi Tokugawa.
This article intend to publish the Kumagusu Minakata's experience, How he gained the knowledge, what he said the libraries.

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