Known as the first magazine library in Japan, "Oya Soichi Bunko", which holds about 800,000 magazines, celebrated its 50th anniversary on the 17th.
Strict management that relies on crowdfunding and donations continues, but the museum says, "As long as there are people who want to utilize it, we must continue to do so."
"Oya Soichi Bunko" in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo is a private library created in 1971 based on the collection of Soichi Oya, a critic and journalist representing the Showa era. About 12,700 types, 800,000 We have a collection of magazines.
On the 17th, the 50th anniversary of its founding, the commemorative event was postponed due to the influence of the new coronavirus, but it opened at 11:00 am after limiting the number of visitors, and people searching for materials were visiting one after another. It was.
Oya Soichi Bunko was used by more than 90,000 people a year when it was large, but in recent years the number of users has decreased sharply due to the spread of the Internet, and it is difficult to rely on crowdfunding and donations to newly established support groups. I continue to run the business.
On the other hand, the abundant collection of magazines, which is also a feature of Oya Soichi Bunko, and the database of articles have been enhanced every year, and a comprehensive catalog listing the collection materials has been created for the first time in line with the 50th anniversary of its founding.
Eiko Oya, the third daughter of Soichi Oya and the chairman of the library, said, "In the age of mass production and mass consumption, the goodness of old things is increasing. Management is in a difficult situation, but Oya Soichi Bunko As long as there are people who want to utilize it, I have to continue and I believe that I can continue. "