Hours:  10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Monday to Friday

Library Holidays:

Weekends, National Holidays,
Summer Holiday,
Year-end and New Year’s Holidays

Materials are for in-library use only.

Identification and admission fees are not required.

United Nations Depository Library

The United Nations has established United Nations Depository Libraries around the world with the goal of disseminating information about the principles and activities of the United Nations. At present, there are more than 400 depository libraries in over 140 countries, including 14 libraries in Japan established under the auspices of national public libraries and university libraries.

Kyoto United Nations Depository Library

In 1956, Kyoto City was appointed to establish its United Nations Depository Library, but management of the library was entrusted to the Kyoto United Nations Association due to the special nature of the materials kept in the library. The Kyoto United Nations Depository Library was the second established in Japan after the National Diet Libraries, and the first in western Japan.

Since its foundation, the Kyoto United Nations Depository Library has found its home in the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building, Kansai Electric Power Company Building, and the Kyoto Shimbun Building. The Kyoto UN Depository Library was moved to Ritsumeikan University in 1988 in commemoration of the opening of the College of International Relations and for the purpose of putting the materials in the library into better use. After moving to the Kyoto Museum for World Peace at Ritsumeikan University in 1992, the materials from the UN Depository Library now find their home at the International Center at Kinugasa Campus at Ritsumeikan University.

The Kyoto UN Depository Library, which houses materials for the UN and its specialized agencies, is open to the public, and the materials can be accessed by the public free of charge. The fact that this depository is operated and managed privately by mutual cooperation between Ritsumeikan University and UNA Kyoto makes this UN Depository Library unique.

Section for Council of Europe

In May 1995, Ritsumeikan University was designated to establish the first Council of Europe Depository Library located outside of the Council of Europe’s member states.

Publications issued by the Council of Europe will not increase further more because of the re-organization of the documentations department.

Though, we will continue to share the publications in our library which we have received in the past with the spirit and activities of The Council of Europe.

Information Center for International Cooperation, Ritsumeikan University

The Information Center for International Cooperation at Ritsumeikan University was founded in December 1997 with the aim of promoting internationalization and international cooperation by supplying useful materials to students and researchers who are interested in international cooperation.

The Information Center provides information and materials about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and other organizations. Also, to make it possible for the public to obtain information about activities regarding international cooperation, local-governing bodies or NGO associations within Japan have made their publications available to the public. Various materials from these organizations are distributed free of charge.

⇒Rits Univ. Kinugasa Campas Access

⇒Rits Univ. Kinugasa Campas map