The number for the automated phone service is 043-207-5420.

Chiba City Central Library

Address

3-7-7 Benten
Chuo-ku, Chiba City 260-0045
Tel.043-287-3980

Chiba City Library Homepage >> http://www.library.city.chiba.jp/

Library Hours

Library Closing

• Mondays (The following day if a Monday falls on a national holiday)
• Library reorganization days(Every 3rd Thursday, or the following day if it falls on a national holiday)
• Mondays that are substitute holidays for a national holiday
• The new year holiday period
• Special reorganization period

Ward libraries and branch libraries

Operating Hours

9:00 AM - 5:15 PM (Exception of Toke Library, open 1:00pm - 5:15pm on Tues., Wed., Sat.)

Holidays

• Mondays (The following day if a Monday falls on a national holiday)
• Library organization days(Every 3rd Thursday, or the following day if it falls on a national holiday)
• National Holidays and Substitute Holidays
• The new year holiday period
• Special organization period

Library guide: Borrowing Materials, Returning Materials, and Information about Services

The library is a place that offers information to visitors through various reference materials.

Create a Library Card

Please fill out an application form, and submit it to the library counter along with a document of proof of your current address (driver’s license, health insurance card, student identification card, etc.)

• The library cards are valid for five years. Card renewals are allowed beginning three months before your birthday on the fifth year.
  • Please notify the library if you lose your library card, or change your address,etc..
  • The library card can be used at any Chiba City or Public Center library.
  • You can apply for a card even if you live outside of the city boundaries, if you work or attend school in Chiba City. Please bring a document of proof upon applying (employee or student identification card).

Borrowing Materials

Please bring your library card and the material(s) you wish to rent to the library counter.

• You must be of junior high age or older to rent videos, DVDs, CDs, and cassette tapes.
• Some materials are not available for borrowing, including the newest issues of magazines and certain reference books.
• The “maximum number” counts the total number of materials that can be borrowed at Chiba City and Public Center libraries.
• Please handle the materials with care. If you lose or damage library materials, you will be required to pay for a replacement.

Returning Materials

Please return materials to the library counters.
You can return the materials to any of the Chiba City and Public Center libraries. (Limited to materials owned by the city library system).

• You do not need a library card for returns.
• If you wish to return materials outside of the library operating hours, please use the drop-off boxes (book posts) where they are available.
• You cannot use the drop-off boxes for videos, DVDs, CDs, cassette tapes, and picture card shows--- because of the risk of damage.
• You are allowed one extension of the borrowing period for books if no one else has reserved it.
  However, the borrowing period for videos, DVDs, CDs, cassette tapes, and references not owned by the Chiba City libraries cannot be extended. The extension period will be 2 weeks beginning on the day you apply for an extension. However, if the due date has already passed, the extension will be for 2 weeks beginning on the original due date.

Using services that require password registration (from personal computers and cellular phones)

If you register a password at the counter, you will be able to use internet services (from a computer or cellular phone) including rental period extension, book reservations, and book searches, if you live, work, or attend school in Chiba City.

If you have questions or wish to research something

Please ask a staff member at the library counter to help search for materials or information.

To make copies

We allow the photocopying of library materials within the limits of copyright law.
We provide copy machines for a charge.