Wakayama University

The library succeeded collections of the predecessors of Wakayama University, i.e., Wakayama Normal School, Wakayama Normal School of Youth Education and Wakayama Technical College of Economics which traces its roots to the Wakayama Higher Commercial School. At the time of its establishment, the library was divided into four places - Central Library, "Masago-cho" Branch Library, "Kainan" Branch Library and "Iwade" Branch Library. After integration of the branch libraries in 1951, the university ran the Central Library and the "Masago-cho" Branch Library on two campuses. Later, at the time of the relocation and integration of the university campuses from "Sekido" (currently called "Nishitakamatsu") and "Masago-cho" to "Sakaedani," a new library was built on the "Sakaedani" campus in 1985. Two years later, the library opened in its current location as the integration of the two former libraries. Since then, we have attempted to improve library services and enhance facilities in accordance with changing times. Since 2011, we started innovation of the library aiming to strengthen the function of the university library. For example, we put emphasis on developing the role of the university library as a place for students to practice their active learning. For this purpose, we have made a major shift from the library as a material storage facility to the one with enhanced functions of learning assistance , including new facilities: a Learning Commons area, the Multi-Purpose Rooms service, and the Media Rooms. 2. From Library to Crosscul Center