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TOMOSHIBI LIBRARY Japanese-language library Celebrating 15 years of community service! |
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Tomoshibi Library, located in Bellevue, Washington (U.S.A.), was founded in 1991 by five Japanese housewives who came up with the unique concept of collecting ‘used’ Japanese books and making them available to local community members to be checked out for recreational or educational purposes. After 15 years of service, the way that the library operates remains simple. Once the donated books are consolidated, they are organized, shelved, and made readily available to the public; mimicking the idea of a public library. This concept, from the beginning, quickly sparked tremendous interest and support from people wanting to donate their 'used' books, as well as from community members who now have the chance to freely access the books at their own leisure. Today, Yuko Kokage, one of the original founders of Tomoshibi Library, along with a team of enthusiastic volunteers, manages the library. The library is conveniently located within driving distance from downtown Seattle, housed in a cozy 1000 square foot building in the backyard of Ms. Kokage's home. Every Wednesday, during hours of operation (10am-12 noon and 2pm-4pm), you’ll find people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds frequenting this magical library filled with new discoveries, inspiration, and fun. About Our Collection... Inside Tomoshibi Library, you’ll be amazed to find over 28,000 Japanese books and literature neatly displayed on bookshelves. The books are neatly organized by genre, writer, and subject matter. Having trouble finding a book to check out or need recommendations? No problem! Our friendly volunteer staff are available to assist you during normal operating hours. The library is divided into two wings; the South and the North Wing. The South Wing consists mostly of hardcover novels. It also houses the checkout desk, where you can stamp and check out your own books. The North Wing of the library predominantly consists of paperbacks, children’s books, and comic books (manga). How It Works... All materials can be checked out at no cost. There is no membership, nor a limit on the number of books that can be checked out at a time. The books can be checked out for up to 4 weeks. There are no late-fees. The library basically operates on an “honor system” where we hold you accountable for responsibly returning your books in a timely manner- so that others can enjoy the same experience and opportunity to check out their favorite books. This system has been set in place since the Library first opened its doors in 1991 and one of the library's goals is to continue to operate in this fashion. Tomoshibi Library highly encourages and welcomes non-native Japanese people to visit. Please feel free to stop by during normal operating hours.
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TOMOSHIBI LIBRARY
Operating Hours: Open every Wednesday: 10am-12pm (noon) & 2pm-4pm
Address: 6215 Lake Washington Blvd SE Bellevue, WA 98006 (U.S.A.)
(Tomoshibi Library; located in Bellevue, Washington, USA)
(Inside Tomoshibi Library: South Wing)
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