Nihongo Library

The  Nihongo Library at The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles was established in 1991 to  provide access to Japanese language instructional materials to Japanese  language educators in the United States. The library primarily serves to  Japanese language teachers, researchers, and administrators at teaching  institutions. In addition to the intended users stated above, the library is  also open to any person who is interested in Japan, Japanese language, and  Japanese arts and culture.   

2012 Library Hours

Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Library is closed on weekends and national holidays.

JFLA Visitors Information

Library Card

Most of our library materials are available for loan,  free of charge, to registered patrons. You need to submit the Library Card  Application Form to the Nihongo Library along with picture identification with  your name and current home address on it. PO Boxes are not acceptable.

If  your ID doesn't bear your home address, you may submit the following documents  along with the ID card.

• A recent utility or phone bill.
• Any first-class mail with a current postmark.

The  library offers three different types of library cards:

General Member

If you are a resident of the state of California over the age of 18, you are  eligible for a General Member's library card.

Mail-circulation Member     

Mail-circulation service is available only to: Japanese-language teachers,  researchers, including graduate students, administrators at Japanese-language  educational institutions.

1. The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles will bear the expense of postage one way via  UPS. Return of the materials will be at the expense and responsibility of the  borrower.
2. Applicants are also required to submit one of the following forms as proof of  status    
• Staff (employee) ID card
• Student ID card
• School principal, department chair, or school advisor  signature on the library card application form.
3. The application can be mailed or faxed.

Junior Member (High school students)      

If you are a high school student, you may apply for a Junior Member library  card. Please present your California ID or school ID along with your parent or  guardian's signature on the library card application form.

Where  to get a library card?      

The Registration Desk in the Library is located in the Japan Foundation, Los  Angeles office located in 333 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2250, Los Angeles, CA.

Mail-circulation Membership

You can  download the application form by Clicking Here.

Services

Loan Periods

• A maximum of 6 books, 6 periodicals, and 4 sets of  audio-visual materials may be borrowed from the Library at any time for a  period of up to 3 weeks.
• The loan period for mail circulation materials is 4 weeks from the date  shipped from the Library. Borrowed materials must be returned to the library by the due date.
• New materials and special materials may be subject to shorter loan periods.

Renewing Materials

• Materials  may be renewed once for an additional 3 weeks by contacting the Library,  provided that they have not been reserved.

Returning Materials

All materials on loan must be returned to the library in the same condition in which they were borrowed. Members are requested to place videos and tapes in their appropriate cases and return AV items with their accompanying booklets.

Lost/Damaged Materials

If  the materials are lost, stolen, or irreparably damaged, the borrower must  forfeit the replacement value to the library.

If an item is damaged, fees are charged based on the severity of damage.

Late Fee

$0.25 per day per item for all material types.

No charge for weekends and holidays.

Maximum fee of $5.00 per overdue item.

Overdue Notices and Bills

The borrower is responsible for returning materials by the due date.

Overdue notices will be sent either by letter or email depending on contact  information provided.

Members who do not return items for more than two months after the due date  will lose their  borrowing privileges  unless late fees are paid and materials are returned.

Late fee notices are sent when the materials are returned late and fees have  been incurred.

Conditions for loan

• Reproduction of audio-visual materials is strictly prohibited.
• Use of audio-visual materials for profit-making purpose or for broadcasting  is prohibited.
• The materials may not be loaned or conveyed to a third party.
• The Japan Foundation is not responsible for any legal consequences arising  from any member's use of audio-visual materials borrowed from the Nihongo  Library.