• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-345
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• 2012

This is a study on types and current status of school library in japan that are open to public. it aims to increase library access and further improvement of accessible information environment by opening the libraries within schools. In case of Japan, libraries' importance to school education enacted world's first School library act by 1953 and installation rate of school libraries is achieved up to 100%. These libraries opened to its local community is in the process of increasing library usage and now in total of 11.6% of lower, middle, and upper school are already opened to their local community. Considering decreasing usage of facilities in schools, teacher vacant time, expanding libraries, and other various alternatives should be considered together. It will lead to equal access to information environment and lifelong education. The study suggests ways of installing school libraries in appropriate sizes and forms within their local societies. It also propose possible ways to open school libraries to perform their own functions.