Tokyo Metropolitan Library

The Tokyo Metropolitan Library is the primary public library for the metropolitan prefecture of Tokyo, including the city and its environs. It has three branches - The central library is located in Minami-Azabu, with branches in Hibiya and Tama. The library was founded in 1973 at the current location of the central branch.

The library is free and open to the public, although not all collections are available to all people at all times.

The library also has arrangements with over 300 smaller local public libraries allowing interlibrary lending priveleges.

Holdings

Although not as deep as the collection of the National Diet Library, The Tokyo Metropolitan Library houses a large collection of books, periodicals, and audio-visual materials.

The Central Branch holds 240,000 volumes, including a large collection of rare materials, showcasing over 40,000 documents pertaining to the history of Tokyo (Edo), some of which date back over 400 years. Books are divided by subject - Reference, Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science. Of note is the opening of a "regional history research center".

The Hibiya Branch holds 130,000 volumes, including 4,000 foreign volumes. It also maintains holdings of over 1,000 different magazine periodicals and nearly 200 different newspapers.

Total holdings (including volumes in storage) of the Metropolitan Library estimate at approximately 1,480,000 volumes.

Hours

The Central Branch is open Monday - Friday from 10 AM to 9 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. However, borrowing is not allowed on approximately 2 or 3 days a month, which change monthly. The Special Collections Room is open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM

The Hibiya Branch is open Monday - Friday 10 AM to 8 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 10 AM to 5 PM. It also has a restricted borrowing days calendar separate from the Central Branch's that changes monthly.

The Tama Branch is open Monday - Friday 9:30 AM to 7 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Restricted borrowing days change monthly.

Locations and Access

Central Branch: 5-7-13 Minami-Azabu Minato-ku,Tokyo, 106-8575. Accessible by foot from Hiro-o Station on the Subway Hibiya Line, Azabu-Juban Station on the Subway Namboku Line, and the Azabu-Juban Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line.

Hibiya Branch: 1-4 Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0012. Accessible by foot from Kasumigaseki Station on the Subway Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line, and Chiyoda Line, Shinbashi Station on the JR Yamanote Line, and [[Uchi-Sawai-Cho\\ Station on the Subway Mita Line.

Tama Branch: 6-3-1 Nishiki-cho, Tachikawa-shi,Tokyo, 190-0022. Accessible by foot from Tachikawa Station on the JR Chuo Line and Nishi-Kunitachi Station on the JR Nambu Line.