Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from the National Diet Library (NDL) of Japan.
On February 20, 2025, the National Diet Library has started offering the “Remote photoduplication service (PDF file download)”, where we provide photocopies as PDF files, in addition to the conventional “Remote photoduplication service (courier or postal mail)”, where we provide printed photocopies by courier or postal mail.
Outline of the service
This is a service where users can make requests for photoduplication without coming to the library and acquire PDF files of photocopies of materials held by the NDL. Making requests and downloading PDF files will be done on NDL Search (https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/).
According to the provisions of the Japanese Copyright Law, in principle, only a part of a work can be photocopied.
Materials covered by the service
In principle, any materials held by the NDL are available through this service. However, publications of musical scores, maps, photo books, art books, magazines published within one year, etc. are not included in the scope of the service, in accordance with the provisions of the Japanese Copyright Law and other regulations.
Who can use the service
Only individual users with an official NDL user registration can use this service. Users with simple user registration and institutions such as libraries cannot make requests. For details on user registration, please refer to “User Registration: official registration” (https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/registration/individuals_official.html).
Users must agree to the terms of use before applying for this service.
Photocopy Fee
In order to use this service, compensation to the copyright holder is required. In addition to the cost of photocopying, a fee equivalent to compensation will be charged.
Details of this service are posted on the “Remote photoduplication service” (https://www.ndl.go.jp/en/copy/remote/index.html#a02).
Best wishes,
TATEMATSU Makiko (Ms.)
Deputy Director General
Administrative Department
National Diet Library, Japan