Library Services for the Women's Empowerment : Activities of the Library, Osaka Prefectural Women's Center Library(Lifelong and Continuing Education in Libraries)

Abstract

In Japan, unlike other countries, we have women's centers as public organizations, where we undertake comprehensive projects such as offering enlightenment programs, counseling programs, and information providing programs. Women's center libraries, taking on one of the functions, specialize in women's information, and aim at supporting the activities for solving gender issues and creating a gender-equal society through offering information. Our mission is to cope with various needs for information, and support women's lifelong and diverse activities, such as work, learning, childcare, community, social, and NPO activities in view of information. I would like to cite a few examples which I have practiced at the Osaka Prefectural Women's Center (nicknamed Dawn Center) for ten years, and consider the possibilities of library activities aiming at lifelong supporter.