Saitama Prefectural Libraries User Guide (English)

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 Branch (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.)

• 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 Branch (circulation point).
• Library users who have long overdue library materials will be suspended from reserving or borrowing any library materials.

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.

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

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.

• 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.

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

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

Communication sheet

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.

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