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Saitama Prefectural Libraries User Guide (English)

The Saitama Prefectural Libraries are free of charge in principle and available to all. You are free to look at the books, newspapers, magazines, etc. on the open shelves. The libraries respect the privacy of users.

(Updated August 2023)

Library guide

There are two prefectural libraries and one circulation point in Saitama Prefecture. Each library collects materials from different fields.

Kumagaya Library Foreign language materials, Philosophy, Religion, History, Geography, Social Sciences, Industry & commerce, Saitama local materials, and CDs/DVDs.
Kuki Library Science, Technology, Art, Language, Literature, Braille books, Recorded materials for the visually-challenged, Children's books, and CDs/DVDs.
Urawa Bunshitsu (circulation point) It is a counter for viewing, borrowing, and returning prefectural library materials. No materials are kept here.

Hours

Kumagaya and Kuki Library

  • Tuesday - Friday
    Jun. - Sep. : 9:00 - 20:00
    Oct. - May. : 9:00 - 19:00
  • Saturday, Sunday, and National holidays
    9:00 - 17:00
  • Children's library: 9:00 - 17:00

Urawa Bunshitsu (circulation point)

  • Tuesday - Sunday
    9:00 - 17:00

Closed

Kumagaya and Kuki Library

  • Mondays (The libraries will be closed on the following Tuesday if any Monday is a national holiday or the Prefectural Citizen's Day (Nov.14))
  • Fourth Friday of every month (The libraries will be closed on the preceding Thursday if any Friday is a national holiday. Libraries will be open on the fourth Fridays of July and August.)
  • The end and beginning of the year (Dec. 29 to Jan. 3)
  • Spring and fall special inventory periods

Urawa Bunshitsu (circulation point)

  • The closing days of Saitama Prefectural Archives
  • Fourth Friday of every month (The circulation point will be closed on the preceding Thursday if any Friday is a national holiday. Circulation point will be open on the fourth Fridays of July and August.)

How to check out library materials

  • When borrowing library materials, please bring your library card to the counter. If you are borrowing materials for the first time, go to the counter, fill out the application form for a library card, and bring some form of identification which proves your name and address, such as a residence card, insurance card, a driver's license, etc.
  • Anyone may borrow up to 10 books or magazines and 5 audio-visual items for a period of 15 days.
  • If you wish to keep the materials beyond the due date, please bring them to the counter or call us within 15 days. You can confirm whether an extension is possible by phone or via the internet.Provided the materials have not been reserved by others, an extension can only be made once.

How to return library materials

  • Please bring the library materials to the counter by the due date. When the library is closed, you may slip the materials into the book drop at the entrance. You can also return them by mail (you must bear the cost). Please return audio-visual items directly to the counter whenever possible. If you need to return CDs, DVDs, or video tapes via the book drop, you must wrap them in bubble wrap or any soft material to avoid damaging them.
  • You can return your borrowed materials to any of the Saitama Prefectural Libraries (Kumagaya and Kuki), or to the Urawa Bunshitsu (circulation point).
  • Library users who have long overdue library materials will be suspended from reserving or borrowing any library materials.

Reference services

Reference service is an assistance service provided by our libraries to search for materials and information.
As well as direct applications, which can be made when visiting the libraries, applications can be made via the website, telephone, post, and FAX.
Persons not living, working, or studying in Saitama Prefecture may only ask questions regarding Saitama Prefecture.

Notice

The information we can give on the following topics is limited:

  • Assignments, quiz games, prize contests
  • Medical care, prescriptions, laws, and patents
  • Advice about work, life, fortune, or personal counseling
  • Assumptions and estimations regarding the future

We cannot accept questions about the following topics:

  • Judgments about arts and antiques
  • Writing of literary explanations, translations, extracts, and summaries, etc.
  • Writing of essays, reports, and family trees, etc.
  • Questions that are in violation of human rights or an invasion of someone's privacy

Application for reference services via the website

Please complete the application form (opens in a new window)

Regarding application:

The application process varies according to your registration status.

(1)Persons who are registered and have a password:

On the "Enter Inquiry" page, please enter your "Library Card Number," "Password," and "Inquiry Content." Next, select your "Questioner Category," then press the "Register" button.
After checking that the details displayed on the following page are correct, please press the "Register" button again.

*Responses will be sent via email. Prior to application, please check whether you have recorded your email address with your user information, or by accessing your "My Library" page.
*The "Questioner Category" selection options are in Japanese only. The options are:
未就学:Preschooler, 小中学:Primary/Junior High School Student, 高校:Senior High School Student, 大学:University Student, 社会人:Adult, 団体:Organization, 図書館:Library.

(2)For everyone other than those specified in category (1):

On the "Enter Inquiry" page, complete only the "Inquiry Content" section before selecting your "Questioner Category," then press the "Register" button. It is not necessary to complete the "Library Card Number" or "Password" sections.
On the following "Enter User Information" page please complete the required sections and then press the "Register" button again.

*The "Questioner Category" selection options are in Japanese only. The options are:
未就学:Preschooler, 小中学:Primary/Junior High School Student, 高校:Senior High School Student, 大学:University Student, 社会人:Adult, 団体:Organization, 図書館:Library.

If you do not receive a response

Occasionally, there may be a problem with the library receiving your inquiry.
Please contact Kuki Library Information Service (lib-joho@pref.saitama.lg.jp) if you don't get an answer within a reasonable amount of time.

Internet

These libraries provide access to the internet. PCs are available for a standard allotment of 30 or 60 minutes. Please ask the library staff for details.

Interlibrary cooperation activities

Interlibrary loans, exchange of information and so on are being carried out with public libraries in Saitama Prefecture.
You may borrow materials from the Saitama Prefectural Libraries at a library in your neighborhood at no charge.

Photocopy service

  • You may photocopy the materials in the library within the limitations of Copyright Law. The charge for one black & white photocopy is 10 yen, and color photocopies are 30 yen per sheet.
  • Please fill out the application form at the counter before you photocopy.
  • You are not permitted to photocopy your own materials at the library.

Other

Saitama Prefectural Libraries (Kumagaya and Kuki) have reading services for the visually-challenged, available by appointment.

Requests from the libraries

Please handle the library materials carefully. If you soil, break, or lose any library materials, you are required to replace them.

Communication sheet

Communication sheets are available at the reception desk of the Saitama Prefectural Library.Telephone interpreting services and other measures are also available.
There's no need to care about whether to well communicate with our counter staff in Japanese language. Please feel free to talk to them.

How to search for library materials

You may search for library materials using the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), internet, and mobile phone.
If the materials are not in the library or out on loan, you may ask us to order them.

List of magazines and newspapers

List of magazines

Language Name of magazines Location
Simplified Chinese Kumagaya
Traditional Chinese Kumagaya
Korean Kumagaya
English Kumagaya
English Kuki
Portuguese

Kumagaya
German Kumagaya
French Kumagaya
Spanish Kumagaya

List of newspapers

Language Name of newspapers Location
Simplified Chinese 人民日报北京版 Kumagaya
Traditional Chinese 留学生新聞 Kumagaya
Korean 조선신보(朝鮮新報), 동아일보 일본판(東亜日報 日本版), 노동일보(労働新聞) Kumagaya
Vietnamese Báo sinh viên Kumagaya
English Asahi Weekly, The Japan Times, The New York Times. International ed., The New York Times Weekday ed. Kumagaya
English The Japan news Kuki
French Le Monde Kumagaya

Access

Kumagaya Library

kumagaya library map

5-6-1 Hakoda, Kumagaya-shi, 360-0014
TEL: 048-523-6291
FAX: 048-523-6468

  • 20 minutes' walk from north exit of Kumagaya Station (JR, Chichibu Line)
  • 2 minutes from the bus stop (Hello Work Kumagaya-mae) by Kokusai Jyuo bus for Kuzuwada, Kumagaya Dome or Hakoda-shako.

Parking lot: spaces for 18 cars (includes two space for physically-challenged people) in front of the library and for 10 cars on the east side of the library.

Google maps

Kuki Library

Kuki library map

85-5 Shimohayami, Kuki-shi, 346-8506
TEL: 0480-21-2659
FAX: 0480-21-2791

  • 20 minutes' walk from west exit of Kuki Station (JR, Tobu Isesaki Line)
  • Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall) bus stop by intra-city bus.

Parking lot: spaces for 44 cars (includes two space for physically-challenged people)

Google maps

Urawa Bunshitsu (circulation point)

Urawa Bunshitsu map

1F, Saitama Prefectural Archives, 4-3-18, Takasago, Urawa-ku, Saitama-shi, 330-0063
TEL: 048-844-6165
FAX: 048 -844-6166

  • 12 minutes' walk from west exit of Urawa Station (JR)

There is no parking lot. Please use public transportation.

Google maps

Floor Guide

Saitama Prefectural Kumagaya Library

1st. floor Public Wireless LANCoin LockerRestroom for ladies and gentlemenRestroom for childrenMulti-purpose restroom

  • Business and Career Library
    Books and magazines for business persons
    Databases
    Photocopying services
    Reading seat (For the study and research of library materials)
  • Children's Library
    Books and picture books for infants, elementary school students, and junior high school students
    Reading seat
  • Reading Service Room
    Reading room for visually-challenged people
  • Media/Meeting room
  • Eating Area

2nd. floor Public Wireless LANCoin LockerRestroom for ladies and gentlemen

  • Reading Room
    Books and magazines on social sciences, industry, and commerce
    Audio-visual materials, such as CDs and DVDs
    Audio-visual booths
    Photocopying services
    Databases and internet access
    Reading seat (For the study and research of library materials)
  • Exhibition Area
  • Foreign Language Materials Mini Exhibition Area

3rd. floor Public Wireless LANRestroom for ladies and gentlemen

  • Reading Room
    Foreign language materials
    Books and magazines about general topics, philosophy, religion, history, and geography
    Newspapers
    Photocopying services
    Databases and microfilm reader
    Reading seat
  • Saitama local media room
    Books, magazines, newspapers, and maps, etc. related to Saitama
    Reading seat (For the study and research of library materials)

Additional Information

  • There is no elevator.
  • At the entrance to every room there is a BDS (Book Detection System). This creates a weak electromagnetic field.

Saitama Prefectural Kuki Library

1st. floor Public Wireless LANRestroom for ladies and gentlemenRestroom for childrenMulti-purpose restroom

  • Children's Library
    Books and picture books for infants, elementary school students, and junior high school students
    Reading seat
  • Reading Service Room, and Braille and Audio-information Space
    Reading room for visually-challenged people
    Text-to-speech device, PCs capable of internet searches using voice activation
    Braille magazines
  • Lecture Hall

2nd. floor Public Wireless LANCoin lockerRestrooms for ladies and gentlemenRestroom for childrenMulti-purpose restroom

  • Reading Room
    Books and magazines about science, technology, arts, languages and literature
    Newspapers
    Audio-visual materials, such as CDs and DVDs
    Audio-visual booths
    Photocopying services
    Databases, internet access, and microfilm reader
    Reading seat (For the study and research of library materials)
  • Exhibition Area
  • Training Room
  • Eating Area

Additional Information

  • At the entrance to every room there is a BDS (Book Detection System). This creates a weak electromagnetic field.

Library Guide PDF

Library guide(PDF:1.6 MB)(Updated July 2023)

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