NCC offers Researchers resources, support, and information about accessing Japanese collections.
NCC’s Digital Resources Committee (DRC) is a database and digital scholarship liaison and support group for North American libraries and their users. DRC works to facilitate better digital and electronic access to Japanese information and wider utilization of digital tools and electronic resources in traditional and digital scholarship on Japan
Japanese Research & Bibliographic Methods
A comprehensive 25-unit course in information literacy for undergraduates in Japanese studies, suitable for students with one year of language study (Look for new online tutorials on YouTube)
The field of Japanese studies increasingly relies on visual images as tools for education in North America. The Image Use Protocol Working Group (IUPWG) endeavors to educate our community about the protocol for obtaining access to, and permission for using, visual images from Japan to strengthen Japanese studies in North America.
NCC has facilitated the growth of the Japan Studies field in North America for the past 25 years. The Multimedia History Project Working Group (MHPWG) is a Participatory Engagement Project, which involves the whole community in building a “multimedia” history of key people involved in NCC and the development of the Japan Studies field.
Multi-Volume Sets (MVS) Database
From 1992 until 2018, NCC helped build a national collection of Japanese research materials in the United States through its Multi-Volume Sets Project (MVS) with funding provided by the Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and supplemental support from Japan Publications Trading Company, Ltd. (JPT).
NCC's Online Guide to Research Access in Japan's major Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLAs) with links to their key Websites
Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery
When academic libraries cooperate to provide research materials for their patrons, it is generally called Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and/or Document Delivery (DD) service. NCC’s ILL/DD Committee assists patrons looking specifically for Japanese-language materials from libraries in Japan.
Since 1995, the Japan Art Catalog Project (JAC) has facilitated access to Japanese art catalogs for art historians and the general public. The JAC Collection was established by ACE Japan (the Japan Association for Cultural Exchange) with the financial support of the Japan Foundation in collaboration with the NCC.
NCC’s Outreach Working Group (OWG) supports faculty researchers and independent scholars of Japan, particularly those who are affiliated with small institutions or are otherwise without access to comprehensive Japanese library resources. OWG works to facilitate connections between these researchers and needed resources with partners in North America and Japan.
Comprehensive Digitization and Discoverability Program
The objectives of the CDDP task force are to bring to light hidden, academically useful Japan-related materials through digitization; enable more robust use of these items by Japan scholars worldwide; promote collaboration nationally and internationally; foster training in developing digitization projects; and help to build an international infrastructure for digitized Japan-related materials
