This is one of the finest books on Japanese libraries and librarianship ever written by an American librarian. Welch lived in Japan for 14 years and has visited Japan many times since to gather data and interview librarians. In ten chapters, he traces the development of the country's library system, covering academic, public, national, special, and school libraries. . . . With an extensive bibliography of English and Japanese sources, this excellent addition to the literature is highly recommended for all library school collections and scholars of international librarianship.

Library Journal

The book will be a good companion not only to researchers on comparative librarianship, library school faculty and students, but also to librarians, especially who handle Japanese and Asian collections.

Journal of Information, Communication and Library Science

The author's personal experience in Japan enabled him to provide an insightful picture of the library system in this country. This work is one of the few monographs in English on this topic and belongs in any library science collection. It represents an enormous resource for international researchers and scholars who plan study trips to Japan.

Libraries and Culture