is a major library

Library

In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...

 in the Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima is a 3 km long and 50 hectares narrow sandbank in Kita-ku, Osaka city, Japan, that divides the Kyū-Yodo River into the Tosabori and Dōjima rivers...

 section of Osaka

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

, Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

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It was established in 1904; and is today one of two libraries which are supported by the Osaka Prefectural government.

History of the building

The Neo-Baroque style is enhanced with four massive columns which stand at the building's front entrance. The building's stone walls harmonize with the other structures build on the island in the same period. The library's copper roof dome is a distinctive feature.

Initial construction was completed in 1904; and additional construction work in 1922 created an exterior appearance which remains to this day. The main building and both wings were designated as important cultural assets in 1974. It continues to function as a public library.

The library is located in the vicinity of Nakanoshima Park

Nakanoshima Park

The Nakanoshima Park is the first public park opened by Osaka in 1891, after its foundation as a city. It is located in Kita ward, on the Nakanoshima sandbank, laying between Dōjima and Tosabori Rivers. The 11 hectares park houses public facilities as Osaka Central Public Hall, Osaka Prefectural...

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External links

• Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library web site
• Japan Mint
  Japan Mint
  The is an Incorporated Administrative Agency of the Japanese government. This agency has its Head office in Osaka with branches in Tokyo and Hiroshima.-History:...
  
  : 2002 International Coin Design Competition -- see competitor design, "Centennial of erection of the Nakanoshima Library"... also see "Fine Works" plaster model, Kouji Kitanaka (designer)