Reference

Reference is a service that uses library materials to help you find research, materials and information.
"Do you have any materials related to XX?" We accept consultations such as "I'm investigating XX, do you have any reference materials?"

Please ask at the library counter when you visit the library. We also accept telephones, letters, and electronic applications.
＊However, we may not be able to answer homework, quiz answers, medical / health / legal consultations, etc.
In that case, we will help you find a clue.
＊Those who can use it: Those who live, work, or attend school in Yokohama.
＊If you are outside the city, please consult with your local library first.
However, questions about materials related to Yokohama or held only by Yokohama City Library will be accepted from outside the city.

Inquiries by phone
045-262-0050 (Chuo-toshokan)

For inquiries by letter
〒220-0032 1, Oimatsucho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi
Municipal Central Library Research Materials Division

Application for electronic application
In this electronic application, we are accepting applications for reference.
Please note that the time required to respond is only one week.
＊If you do not receive a response, please also check the spam folder.
(Please set (address) so that you can receive e-mails from "reference@lib.city.yokohama.lg.jp".)

• Reference application: Japanese (outside site)(Reception by electronic application)
• Reference Shinsei: Hiragana (outside site)(Denshishinsei)
• Reference Application:English (external site)(Acceptance of electronic application)

＊For inquiries other than the reference, please refer to "Inquiry".

Here are some examples of the questions sent to the library.
In addition, the content is edited in consideration of the privacy of the questioner.

Here are 10 reference examples published by the Yokohama City Library on the Reference Cooperative Database, which had many accesses in 2021.
You can see the answer by clicking the question.

１　 I want to know the meaning of "red feathers", "green feathers" and "blue feathers". (External site)

２ 　Do you have any materials that show changes in the import prices of helium gas? (External site)

３ 　The names of college grades are usually referred to as "1st grade" or "2nd grade", but Kansai universities are referred to as "1st grade" or "2nd grade". Why do you call it so? (External site)

４ 　What is the difference between the three major rivers in Japan and the three major rivers (outside site)?

５ 　I would like to know about prices and wages in 1937 (for example, how much is the United States 10kg and how much is the starting salary of university graduate bankers). (External site)

６ 　We are looking for detailed materials such as where the stones used to make "Yoshidashinden" in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture came from. (External site)

７　 Why do you say "octopus" in bad words? (External site)

８ 　The proverb may become cloudy halfway, "What do you do?" Is there any material that describes its meaning or purpose? Also, are there any materials that can confirm when such a usage has been made? (External site)

９　I want to know what Christian Amen is called in Islam. (External site)

10　From ancient times to the present, I would like to know the first person, second person, and third person used in Japan by age. (External site)

You can search for reference examples from the Yokohama City Library online catalog page.

• Yokohama City Library online catalog page "Reference Case Search": Japanese (outside site)
• Yokoharitsu and Shokanzo Kensaku page "Reference Jirensaku": Hiragana (outside site)
• Yokohama City Library collection search page[Referense Search]: English (outside site)

The Reference Cooperative Database is a project implemented by the National Diet Library and public libraries, university libraries, specialized libraries, etc., and provides them through the Internet to support reference services at libraries and research activities by general users. It is a project implemented by the National Diet Library for the purpose of supporting
＊The list of cases provided by Municipal Central Library (in the new order of registration) is displayed by clicking on the National Diet Library Reference Cooperative Database (List of cases provided by Municipal Central Library) (external site).
＊In addition to the case of Municipal Central Library, you can search for reference examples from libraries nationwide.

• National Diet Library “Reference Collaboration Database” (outside site)

To help you conduct research, you can find tips on how to look up, a list of books by theme, and a list of materials that are difficult to find in online catalog.

• Chousa no Mikata (materials and information useful for research)

We have gathered sites that are useful for doing research.

• A collection of useful links for research