Leiden University's new Asian Library

Abstract

Leiden University’s new Asian Library

ln 2014, Leiden University decided to build a new Asian Library to bring together under one roof all of the collections of the various Leiden University libraries on China, Japan, Korea, India and Indonesia. Also included are the Heritage Collection of the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam and the library of the Leiden-based Royal Netherlands Institute for Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV).

After three years of planning and construction, Leiden University's new Asian Library is ready.

Bringing together various important collections on Asia, the Asian Library holds the largest collection on Indonesia worldwide, and some of the foremost collections on South and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea. Grand Opening on 14 September 2017 To mark the achievement, Leiden University is celebrating the whole of 2017 as the 'Leiden Asia Year'. Working together with other Asia-oriented institutes in Leiden as well as with the Leiden municipality, so far the agenda of the Leiden Asia Year has already featured over 70 events, with a further 40 still scheduled to take place, including the library's Grand Opening. Students and scholars will not have to wait until September, as the Asian Library was opened for the public on March 31.