Bringing Joy of Reading to Kids: Tokyo Children's Library's 50-Year Legacy

Half a Century as a Private Library

Tokyo Children's Library was established in 1974 with the approval of the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education as a public interest corporation. Ishii Momoko, a writer of children's literature also known for her translation of Winnie-the-Pooh, Tsuchiya Shigeko, a key figure in the katei bunko (home library) movement, and Matsuoka Kyoko, who studied children's library science in the USA, joined forces to create the library as a place for local children to enjoy books. Katei bunko are private libraries run by volunteers in a room in their home which is open to the public. A number of these evolved into Tokyo Children's Library, which has consistent availability.

The library's mission since its establishment has been to convey the simple joy of books to children, and to support adults who are involved in children's reading by providing training and publishing materials. "Our top priority is to help children develop a rich imagination through their experience reading books. Instead of the result-oriented thinking that reading books will improve their academic abilities, we value exposing them to the world of language through pure enjoyment," Harikae says.

The Importance of Story Time

Tokyo Children's Library values "reading through the ear," a simple but profound activity of delivering stories by voice. Being read to aloud is the first opportunity children have to begin their literary experience while still unable to read. The library also focuses on training storytellers, holding workshops for adults, in which they learn stories and recount them from memory.

"Being read to aloud and listening to storytelling are experiences that allow children to enjoy the rhythm and sound of words. By listening to them with their ears, children can naturally jump into the world of the story without being troubled by the written word," says Harikae. The Ohanashi no Rosoku (Story Candle) booklet series, which was launched at nearly the same time that the library was established, is widely known for containing traditional and fictional stories suitable for storytelling and are still used as fundamental materials by librarians, nursery school teachers, and other storytellers across Japan.

Lending Valuable Literature to Researchers

The library's collection includes many books in their original language that have won British and American children's book awards. It also has a collection of books donated by the renowned British children's librarian Eileen Colwell. It contains valuable resources for children's literature researchers and attracts many people interested in the genre.

"Eileen Colwell was a master storyteller, and her collection of storytelling repertoire conveys the essence of the stories that children love. Stories told aloud have a special power that cannot be conveyed in writing alone," says Harikae.

International Exchange Through Children's Books

Matsuoka, one of the co-founders of the library and its first director, led a project to plan and publish children's books in Asia, where there is a shortage of children's books, so that people could access high-quality works that represent their culture. They collected manuscripts and illustrations from various countries and edited them at the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO. They also made master English versions of the original manuscripts so that each country could translate and publish with minimal expense.

Today, Harikae and other librarians serve as members of the Japanese Board on Books for Young People or the Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, participating in international conventions to report on their activities or projects to introduce Japanese children's books to the world. The library tracks international developments, inviting foreign writers and reading advocates to hold lectures and workshops, and producing a number of commentaries and columns on the trends in children's book publishing and the state of libraries around the world in its official journal, Kodomo Toshokan (Children's Library).

The Role of Reading in the Digital Age

The environment children are surrounded by has changed greatly due to digitalization. Smartphones, tablets, and other devices have become part of everyday life, and entertainment options have diversified. Despite this, Tokyo Children's Library continues to emphasize the potential of reading.

"Even in the digital age, the appeal of paper books—such as their firm stableness in your hands, the joy of turning the pages, and feeling the weight of that which has been passed on through the years—and the deep learning value of experiencing them remain the same. We believe that books will continue to play a role in opening the door to adventure for children," says Harikae. The development of imagination and language skills through reading books is different from that which is gained through digital devices. Reading books aloud and storytelling are also precious moments for children and adults to connect with each other.

Tokyo Children's Library's role has evolved over the 50 years since its establishment. It has made connections with many people not only in Japan, but also through its international activities, and at the root of this is the vision it has had since the beginning: providing a place for children to enjoy books.

Harikae says, "Ideally, I would like to see the day when our library is no longer needed. If every community had a public space where children could freely enjoy books, our role would end. But until that happens, we would like to keep working with like-minded people to spread the appeal of books."

Tokyo Children's Library will continue to expand its support activities through books, hoping for a prosperous future for children.

Harikae Keiko

After working at Tokyo's Hino Public Libraries, she joined Tokyo Children's Library in 1993. In 2015, she became director of the library. Her translations include Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough and the Jenny's Cat Club series by Esther Averill, the latter being co-translated by Matsuoka Kyoko.