JAPAN LIBRARIES TO TRIAL BOOK SALES AMID BOOKSTORE DECLINE

TOKYO, Nov 23 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Some public libraries in Japan will trial the sale of new books starting in fiscal 2025 to address the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said.

According to Kyodo News Agency, the programme aims to increase opportunities for people to buy books, particularly elderly individuals who may be unfamiliar with online shopping sites.

The trial will be conducted in a number of libraries by TRC Library Service Inc., which provides library services for local governments and others, in conjunction with major book wholesaler Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc., they said.

The libraries will have separate counters for book purchases and regular lending as well as taking orders for books not held in stock.

The trial will be funded by the two companies which are currently selecting candidate libraries. They expect to expand the system if demand for book sales is strong, they said.

As the libraries may also sell stationery and locally-grown vegetables, an official from Nippon Shuppan Hanbai said, "We hope to create a hub for local interactions by revitalising libraries."

The number of bookstores in Japan, excluding university cooperatives and secondhand shops, stood at 7,828 in March, a decrease of 145 compared to the previous survey in August, according to the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture.

The survey also revealed that 24 cities across 15 prefectures had no bookstores at all.

Bookstore operators are under pressure due to the nation's declining population and the increasing popularity of online sales.

--BERNAMA-KYODO