Waseda University: Central Library (早稲田大学中央図書館)

About the Library:

The central library was opened in 1882.  The building of the today's Central library was built in 1991 with international conference center.

Collection Size (As of 2015): 

• Books: 2,792,446 volumes
  • Japanese books: 1,817,738 volumes
  • Non Japanese books: 974,708 volumes
• Periodicals:16,987 titles
  • Japanese: 12,229 titles
  • Non Japanese: 4,758 titles

Notable Collection(s): For a list of collections held by Waseda University, please refer to "Special Collections".

Note: The Guide uses the ALA/LC standard romanization, however, it also reflects a different romanization system used by an individual institution or collection.

Joint Library System with Keio University 

Waseda University Library and Keio University Media Center are agreed to launch a first  joint library system in Japan by 2020.

Using the Library

Prior to the Visit:

• Please find information on materials by using online library catalog.

• Letter of Introduction (紹介状 Shōkaijō) from your home institution library. Please use the following form if the home institution does not have one:
  • A letter of Introduction (Word,  PDF)

• Your home institution library has to inquire about the availability of needed materials in the Central Library by contacting (individual inquires are not accepted):

• With one letter of introduction, you can use the Central Library for 7 days.

Upon Arrival:

• Please present some form of personal ID. 

• A Letter of Introduction 

• One-day user card will be issued. 

• For those who need to leave, but plan to re-enter the library on the same day, please ask staff at the Information Counter before exiting the library. 

• Please consult the library staff for those who need more than one day to use the material. 

• Please consult the staff at the Reference Counter on the 2nd floor for finding materials.