Institutional Legitimacy of Public Libraries in Japanese Urban Policy

ABSTRACT This study examines the role of libraries in Japan's Basic Plan for Revitalizing Central Urban Areas and investigates the functions and values emphasized in regional revitalization policies. By using Yamagishi's (2024) five dimensions of public library legitimacy, which include democracy , communication and education , history and culture , economy , and librarianship , a qualitative content analysis was conducted on 288 plans from 157 municipalities certified between 2006 and 2024. The findings indicate that libraries are particularly valued for promoting intellectual freedom, offering multifunctional community spaces, and enhancing economic vitality by attracting a diverse range of users. However, values such as neutrality , the public sphere , social justice , and the professional expertise associated with librarianship receive only limited emphasis. The study underscores the importance of developing future urban policy in Japan that more comprehensively addresses the multifaceted legitimacy and wider societal contributions of public libraries beyond the economic dimension.