Tajimi has a "Children's Library" (The Tajimi City Children's Information Center)

It has been a long time since my last blog post. I am writing this because I visited a wonderful place that I just had to share.

Tajimi City has a "library for children"

Did you know that Tajimi City has a library exclusively for children? Here it is. Tajimi City Children's Information Center (Tajimi City Library Branch) It is a Western-style building with a weathercock. This is a branch of the Tajimi City Library, housing books for everyone from infants to high school students. It is located away from the main Tajimi City Library (in a different town across the river). The main library also has a good selection of picture books and children's literature, so it is easy to be satisfied with just that, but a library dedicated to "children" is, after all, much easier for children to use.

Full of features that make you want to pick up one book after another

The first thing that surprises you when you enter is that many books are displayed with their covers facing out at children's eye level, so they constantly catch your eye. The books seem to call out to you, "Look at me, look at me!" and it feels like you are being welcomed by the books, which is exciting even for an adult.

My son, who came with me, was drawn to the vibrant colors and lively cover art, and picked up a picture book set in an African market called "Jinga-kun Goes to the Market," asking me to "Read this!" This was a huge surprise, as it was not the kind of book about animals, nature, or adventure that he usually wants to read.

As we started reading, the hustle and bustle of a distant African market came vividly to life in a corner of this small Tajimi library, and my son and I were whisked away through time and space. This is truly an experience filled with the joy of reading! The feeling that you can go anywhere if you open a book. The joy of learning new things from books. I have always thought that a place where you can experience such high-quality encounters with books—serendipity—is one of the elements of an excellent library.

This Children's Information Center is exactly that kind of place! I think it is a truly luxurious and fortunate thing to have a place nearby where children can have this experience related to reading from a young age. The way the books are arranged, making you want to pick them up and think, "Oh, this looks interesting!" is superb, and you can feel the thoughtfulness of the librarians and their love for books and children in every corner of the building. I was impressed that it is a place filled with mechanisms that allow children to explore new worlds one after another without narrowing their range of interests.

The "Rain" and "Frog" corners, tailored to the seasonal themes, are also wonderful.

You can read in a relaxed and laid-back way

As it is a children's library, there is a tatami corner right at the entrance, and during the day, I saw parents and children relaxing and enjoying books together. My son, who is now in elementary school, also enjoyed lying down and reading books.

The main library also has spaces where children can relax, but you still get the feeling that you are intruding on an adult space. The sense of security and comfort of a "place exclusively for children" is completely different. In the back, there is a space for studying, and in the evening, junior high and high school students were coming in to study. The Western-style atmosphere with natural light streaming in is also nice.

These are the books my son and I borrowed that day.

You can borrow books if you have a Tajimi City Library card. You can also return books borrowed from the main library here. It has a very good selection of books for children up to junior high school age, including not just picture books, but also illustrated reference books, children's literature, novels, and young adult collections. There are even study guides. While high school students might find it a bit lacking compared to the main library, there are also magazines for adults, making it a calm and nice place to come and study a little.

Perhaps because of the name "Information Center," I did not realize this was a library and had hardly used this facility. What a waste that was. But it is still okay. My son, who went for the first time, seemed to like it very much, so let's make full use of it from now on!

Is the Children's Information Center going to be relocated!?

Just as I thought, "Right, let's make full use of this place!" I learned that there is a plan to relocate this Children's Information Center to the main library in eight years. Relocate to the main library!? Can the special atmosphere of this Information Center be maintained if it is moved to the main library? Isn't it significant precisely because it is an independent place for children, not in the same building as general book browsing? I am in deep shock, wondering if it is really okay to relocate such a precious place where children can spend time with peace of mind and freedom.

A small green space spreads out in front of the building, which is also lovely.

There is a small bench and a mini table, and I saw high school students spreading out their lunches and eating. I wonder if they study after eating lunch. There are not many places like this where children of a wide range of ages, from infants to high school students, gather depending on the time of day. It should be the duty of the citizens to protect this facility, which is a place for children and a place to "nurture knowledge and emotion" through books, as a treasure of Tajimi for a long time to come! I wrote this blog because I felt that way. If you have never used it, please do! Even if you are not a Tajimi citizen, you can borrow books if you register as a new user.

Tajimi City Children's Information Center 1 Tokiwa-cho, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Closed: Every Monday, the third Thursday of the month (for facility maintenance), and during the New Year holidays. You may use the parking lot at the Tajimi City Hall main building.