 |
 |
|
 |
What are your business hours? |
 |
|
We are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for the Saturday and Monday of the second and fourth week of each month and the Saturday and Sunday of the fifth week of each month. We are also closed on holidays, including for the New Year (December 28 through January 3). |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
Is the library open to everyone? How can I become a member? |
|
|
The library is open to anyone who is 17 or older, and annual memberships are available. Here is how you can join the library:
- How to become a member
Fill out and submit the application provided at the library along with a copy of an identification card (there is no membership fee). Those under the age of 19 must include the signature of a teacher (if not a student, a signature may be provided by a parent or a verifiable person) in the reference section of the application. Although a membership card is issued the following day, applicants can use the library and check out books the day they submit an application.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can children use the library? |
|
|
Because membership is provided only to those 17 or older, children cannot use the library. However, they are allowed to browse and check out children's picture books or storybooks from the library's collection. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can I return a book after business hours? |
|
|
You may use the drop box located in front of the library between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. or between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. If you are unable to visit before your books are due, you may also return them by registered mail. (Books must arrive before their due date.) |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
I've lost my membership card. What should I do? |
|
|
Please visit in person to report the loss of your card. Upon confirming your identification, a new card can be issued. (The cost for re-issuing a card is 1,000 won; takes one day.) Until a new card is issued, your identification card can be used as a membership card. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
I'd like to use the library search site (e-library), but I don't know my ID number. |
|
|
The 8-digit membership number on your member card is your ID number. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
I forgot my password for the library search site (e-library). What should I do? |
|
|
To ensure your security, we need to delete the existing password and enter a new one in the system, so please contact the library directly. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
How can I reserve a book? |
|
|
You may reserve only books that are currently checked out. First, search for the item of interest on the library website (http://lib.jpf.or.kr), and upon confirming that it has already been checked out, click the "Available for reservation" button. When reserving a book, be sure to log in using your member number (the number on your membership card) and password (the 4-digit number you provided on your membership application). |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
How can I extend a due date? |
|
|
After logging in on the library website (http://lib.jpf.or.kr), click "Check-out extensionoCheck reservation" on the right side of the screen, check the "Request extension" box to the right of the item you wish to extend and then click on "Request extension." Please note that an extension can be requested only four days or less before the scheduled return date. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can members use the photocopier and printer in the library? |
|
|
Both the photocopier and the printer are available for use only with a pre-paid copy card (no cash). Pre-paid copy cards are available for purchase from the vending machine inside the library (3000-won and 5000-won cards are available). |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can I eat in the library? |
|
|
No food or drink, except for water, is allowed inside the library. Also, the entire building is designated smoke-free; therefore smoking is not permitted as well. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Is it true that most of the videos in your collection are rather old? |
|
|
Yes, that is correct. This is because we purposely collect films from the past.
Korea opened its market to Japanese pop culture in 1998, and since then, some 50 Japanese movies have reached the Korean public in theaters. However, most of them were newly produced films expected to be a hit at the box office, and as a result, there has not been enough opportunity to systematically let the Korean public become acquainted with some great Japanese films from its 100 years of cinematic history. So, the Seoul Cultural Center has built a "basic collection" of films past and present with the help of experts at the National Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo in order to introduce people to the many aspects of Japanese film masterpieces from the past that have not played in Korean theaters.
We believe the collection will be helpful to those who wish to learn about Japanese movies in a systematic way, and we will continue to add new movies as often as possible, so we ask for your continued support and interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can I use a word processing application on a computer at the library? |
|
|
There are four computers in the library. One is exclusively for searching for books in the library while the remaining three are designated for researching Japan-related information. The computers are therefore not available to be used for word processing. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Can members check out periodicals? |
|
|
Yes, but borrowing is limited to older periodicals. In short, the three most recent issues are not available for loan, but previous ones may be signed out. (For example, if the latest monthly issue is the August one, you may check out issues published in May or before.) |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
How long do you keep periodicals in your archives and what do you do with old ones after you're done with them? |
|
|
We generally keep them for a year or two although some are kept for five years depending on the type. Periodicals to be disposed of are first offered to institutions (libraries) wishing to take them as donations, but the remaining publications are free for our members to take. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
When searching for a book, what do the specially-designated codes and classification numbers in the call number represent? |
|
|
Specially-designated codes refer to the type of archive, location and whether the item can be checked out.
| Code |
Meaning |
Content |
Available for loan |
|
No code |
General collection |
Yes |
| R |
Reference Book |
Reference books, including, dictionaries |
No |
| F |
Folio |
Picture and photo books |
No |
| P |
Periodical |
Periodicals including magazines and newspapers |
In part |
| V |
Videocassette |
Videocassettes |
Yes |
| C |
Compact Disk |
Music CD |
Yes |
| CR |
CD-ROM |
CD-ROMs on various topics |
Yes |
| D |
DVD |
DVDs, including films and documentaries |
Yes |
The call numbers are in accordance with the Nihon Decimal Classification, and are associated with specific topics as follows.
| 000 General |
100 Philosophy |
200 History |
300 Social Sciences |
400 Natural Sciences |
| 500 Technology |
600 Industry |
700 Arts |
800 Languages |
900 Literature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
I'd like to know how you select books for your collection. |
|
|
The library of the Japan Foundation, Seoul is an institution established primarily to assist Koreans in gaining a better understanding of Japan.
Therefore, most of our collection is associated with the society, history, culture/arts or literature of Japan, the Japanese language, or Korean-Japanese relations. In addition, we have some books that are famous in Korea, such as those that have earned distinguished literary awards in Japan or that have been best-sellers.
However, books on politics, economics or industry account for only a small percentage of our collection, and there are a very few publications concerning the field of natural science.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
How is your library different from the Japan Information Square (library) of the Japanese Cultural Center? |
|
|
The Japan Information Square of the Japanese Cultural Center is part of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, which is a Japanese government institution in Korea. Its primary purpose is to inform its users of Japanese government policy; however, it also offers a variety of periodicals and books on sports, fashion and movies.
In contrast, our library was established by the Japan Foundation (an independent administrative entity) with a mission to promote mutual understanding through cultural exchanges.
For instance, the Japanese Cultural Center's Japan Information Square has a large collection of publications on the politics, diplomacy and economics of Korea and Japan as well as white papers issued by the Japanese government while the archives of the library at the Japan Foundation, Seoul consist mostly of publications on culture and arts, the Japanese language, history and social studies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
