Kobe University Library has collected about 3,600,000 bibliographical materials. The Library is comprised of a General Library and 9 branches divided in accordance with subjects. (But General Library and Library for Intercultural Studies are sharing the same space.) 1 of these at Kusunoki, 1 at Myodani, 1 at Fukae and others at Rokkodai as follows.
General Library
Library for Social Sciences
Library for Science and Technology
Library for Humanities
Library for Intercultural Studies
Library for Human Development Sciences
Library of Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration
Library for Medical Sciences
Library for Health Sciences
Library for Maritime Science
Each library provides a wide range of books and journals to students and staff to promote their education and assist their research. The libraries also collect audio-visual and CD-ROM materials to complement these written materials. Computerization of the library system in cooperation with the Information Science and Technology Center and the establishment of networks with non-university institutions, such as the National Institute of Informatics, is extending the library network, helping to provide a better service for all users.
In 1999, "Kobe Digital Library" system launched its service. It provides digitized collections for users inside and outside the campus via the Worldwide Web (www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/dlib/e-index).
The Library for Social Sciences stores 48,000 materials related to the Great Hanshin Earthquake. "The Earthquake Library" discloses them, and aims to contribute to boosting the emergency restoration, earthquake researches, and disaster-prevention measures.