Ishikawa Prefectural Library Report | Easy to use and fun! seven points

■ Reading space with a sense of openness

The new library has 4 floors above ground and 1 floor below ground, and has a circular reading space with an open ceiling to the top. On the 3rd floor, there is a bridge that crosses the building, and you can see the dynamic interior of the library from there. In addition to the stairs and elevators that connect each floor, the circular reading spaces from the 1st to 3rd floors are connected by gentle slopes, allowing wheelchairs and strollers to reach all the bookshelves. The bookshelves in the circular reading space are lined with about 70,000 familiar and familiar books selected for each of 12 themes, such as "Expand your life," "Think about work," and "Experience literature." While strolling along the bookshelves, you can encounter books that draw you instinctively. On the bookshelf outside the circular reading space, books are arranged in the general classification order of the library, so if there is a book you want to read, you can directly search for it.

■ East, West, South, and North zones are color-coded with five Kaga colors

In addition to the bookshelf, there are various spaces in the hall. Some people may worry that they will get lost or will not reach their destination. Each floor is divided into blocks in the north, south, east, and west, and the directions are color-coded using the five Kaga colors (north: ancient purple, south: red, east: grass, west: ocher, and the entire fourth floor: indigo). Flags hang from the ceiling, and passages and furniture are also color-coded, making it easy to see which block you are in. It is convenient when you are looking for a book or when you want to go to various spaces other than the reading seat.

■ Approximately 300,000 books on the shelves A place where you can meet various books

Ishikawa Prefectural Library surrounded by many books. The number of books on the open shelves is about 300,000, which is three times that of the old library (as of the opening on July 16), and the total number of books in the library is more than 1,000,000. To borrow a book in the library, search it with the book search machine and press the button to borrow the library. Go to the counter written on the receipt and receive the book when the number is displayed on the monitor. The library has a storage capacity of about 2 million volumes, which is one of the largest in Japan. It seems that the collection of books will be held for the next 50 years, and you can feel the high potential of the library. In addition to general books, the Ishikawa Prefectural Library also holds valuable historical materials and historical documents. For example, the paintings created by the Kaga clan, "Kanbun Nanazawa-zu" (Kanbun 7, 1667) and "Enpo Kanazawa-zu" (Enpo era, 1673-81), are registered as cultural properties designated by Ishikawa Prefecture. There are also historical materials. The castle town of Kanazawa is illustrated on a scale of 1/600, over 500 centimeters square, and you can read the changes in the town over the past seven years. From books that can be useful for everyday research and school homework, to hobby reading and old documents that can be used for full-scale research. It is a place where you can find not only a large number of books, but also a wide range of content.

A variety of chairs that allow you to spend your time as you like

There are about 500 reading seats in the library, which can be used according to the style and taste of using the library, and the mood of the day. There are over 100 types of reading seats, including desks that are perfect for studying and researching, semi-private seats by the window where you can read a book while looking out the window, sofas where you can relax, and stools where you can sit when you get tired of walking. Some of the desk seats have outlets that you can plug in, so you can work on your computer. In the hall, there are chairs that have been loved for a long time in the world, such as Scandinavia, Italy, and America, as well as special chairs using Kaga five colors. The furniture is also one of the highlights of the library, such as the colors of the chairs and sofas harmonizing with each color-coded block. The Ishikawa Prefectural Library is characterized by being able to chat, but there are also seats called "Silent Rooms" for people who want to concentrate on their work or study, or want to read in a quiet space. There are 26 seats separated by booths. Reservations can be made in 30-minute increments up to a maximum of 120 minutes. After registering your user card, you can make a reservation from the seat reservation machine in the hall or the website (smartphone is also possible).

■ "Children's area" where parents and children can spend time together

The "Children's Area", where parents and children from infants to 6th graders can spend time with their parents, secures a large space that is about 10 times the size of the former prefectural library. There is not only a space for reading books, but also a place where you can move your body like an athletic. Even children who find it difficult to sit still can read while changing their mood. Zones are loosely divided from infants to lower grades and upper grades, so you can spend time in a place that suits your child's age and interests. In addition, there is also "Ohanashi no Mori" outdoors, which is based on the image of a satoyama. It is an area where you can experience various things other than reading, such as farming and observation.

■ People outside the prefecture can also make it! ? user card

After registering as a temporary user using a computer, smartphone, or book search machine in the library, you can create a library user card by completing procedures at the general counter on the 2nd floor. Book search machines are installed throughout the building from the 1st to 3rd floors, and are also located right next to the general counter. For this registration procedure, you need something that can confirm your address and name, such as an insurance card. User cards can be created not only by people living, working, or attending school in Ishikawa Prefecture, but also by people living in the Tokai-Hokuriku region (Toyama, Fukui, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie prefectures). 10 books can be borrowed for up to 3 weeks.

■ Good access by bus or car

There is a Hokutetsu route bus from Kanazawa Station, and the nearest bus stops are "Sakiura Prefectural Library Gate" and "Ishikawa Prefectural Library", both of which cost 250 yen. The large parking lot can accommodate up to 400 cars, and the Ishikawa Mutual Support Parking Lot is also available for wheelchair users, the elderly, and pregnant women. If you use the library, it is free for less than 3 hours. If you pass your parking ticket through the "parking fee discount machine" (located next to the north and east entrances and at the information counter), you can get a discount for 3 hours (100 yen for 30 minutes after 3 hours). In addition, there is a covered bicycle parking space and a port for Kanazawa City's public bicycle sharing service "Machi-Nori". The new Ishikawa Prefectural Library will satisfy everyone, from those who want to enjoy reading casually, to those who want to study and research, and those who want to experience various things other than reading. There are many attractions that I couldn't convey in this article, so please visit and discover your favorite space and how to use it.

Photo courtesy of: ©️Hideki Ookura/Kurome Photo Studio

■Ishikawa Prefectural Library 2-43-1 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa 920-0942

Phone: 076-223-9565

Fax / 076-223-9566

E-mail library@pref.ishikawa.lg.jp