For these years it has been seen in the library world not only to interpret a library itself but also to find out in the history of libraries a new sphere of the library development.
An opposite remark against two theses of Seiji Yamamoto’s “The energy of the library development, a study of the history of libraries” and Yasuhiko Sugiyama’s “A power of creating a library, a method of the history of libraries” are taken here under the three subjects: a new trial of the theory of the library development, some problems concerning the two theses, and preservation and utilization on the library development.

View full abstract

In 1958 the authors have made a survey concerning the actual reading situation in Niigata region, dividing it in five types as follows:
　Type I 　 Medium size city
　Type II 　 Small size city
　Type III 　 Plain agricultural district
　Type IV 　Mountainous agricultural village
　Type V 　 Fishing village
They investigated about 431 persons in this area regarding (1) reading environment (2) acquisition of reading materials (3) reading state (4) reading materials (5) object of reading, and (6) request to public reading agencies.
In this survey the authors found that reading environments are very poor excepting in the city of type I. Especially fishing villages are in the worst condition and one third of the dwellers in fishing village don't read even a daily newspaper.
As to the acquisition of reading materials, the proportion of purchasing and loaning books is half and half, but the loan from library and c. p. h. is only 5.7%． 52.5% of persons under survey read books, and 66.1% read magazines, but those of remaining percentage read no books and magazines.
Generally, books are widely read, especially best-sellers, books about technics, and classical literature being most popular. A special feature is seen in high proportion of the acquisition for agricultural books.

View full abstract

Starting with the brief introduction of the indexing services by W. F. Poole and H. W. Wilson, kinds, functions and structures of indexes are discussed. Classification of indexes is considered in comparison with the existing views. Emphasis is put upon the materialized form rather than subjects treated. Significant problems related specially to the selection of articles to be indexed, entry forms different from general cataloging rules, cumulating method and matters involved in publication are carefully examined.
Secondly, after paying attention to the service to index users, the present situation of Japanese indexing services is reviewed.
Thirdly, to clarify the idea and function of indexes, the relationship between them and abstracts of various kinds is mentioned, and finally ten main points necessary for good indexing services are enumerated.
App. I is the annotated list of main indexes by H. W. Wilson Co. and App. II is the significant Japanese works related to indexing.

View full abstract