Abstract: This is a report concerning the collection, preservation, and display of local materials such
as old photographs and old documents and the digitalization of local materials at public libraries in Japan.
The primary materials in Japanese public libraries are printed books. Digitalization of library’s collection
has not been much done in the majority of Japanese public libraries, neither have they purchased electronic
books. However, the collection, preservation, and display of local materials is specified in the Library Law
and is one of the important duties of public libraries. The most appropriate method for the preservation and
display of local materials, including old photographs, old documents, and rare materials, is digitalization.
Public libraries must consider the digitalization of local materials and display of them via the internet.
Digitalization requires recordation of data, but public libraries at present have no uniform standard for
recording data from old photographs. Based on the current situation, this report examines the digitalization
of local materials at public libraries in Japan currently and its future.

Key words:  Public library, Open Access, Old documents, Human resources, Digitized data