To provide information on historical documentation, we will create a database and offer the catalogue and location information on the Internet. Bibliography and location information of historical documentation will enable researchers and their collaborative researchers in various locations to learn of unique collections, and it will also function as an imperative foundation for the development of new research channels in historical documentation research. Furthermore, all book material will simultaneously be registered with NACSIS-CAT (the catalogue location information database run by the National Institute of Informatics) to contribute to the establishment of a union catalogue database in Japan.

2-1. Collection, preservation, and sharing of historical documentation contents
The historical documentation collected by the various groups of the COE Center for Documentation & Area-Transcultural Studies is envisioned to include a wide range of media, such as written information, oral information, and images. With due observance of intellectual property rights, such historical documentation contents will be digitalized. As the original documentation is collected, its digital version will also be stored so that precious academic assets can be shared and preserved for posterity.
2-2. Multilingual search function
The historical documentation collected by the various groups of the COE Center for Documentation & Area-Transcultural Studies is not only diverse in terms of media, but also consists of many languages. At the COE Center for Documentation & Area-Transcultural Studies, we envision a key characteristic of the database being a large volume of documentation in Asian and African languages. Based on the multilingual nature of the documentation, we will offer search functions in non-Romanized languages as well.

3-1. OPAC Site Cross-Search Function
By utilizing Z39. 50 and HTTP protocols, we will realize cross-search with the libraries catalogue search system (OPAC) of various relevant institutions both inside Japan and elsewhere. This function will enable our Digital Library to function as a historical documentation information hub for historical documentation information on the documentation carried by those institutions. This is so that location information of historical documentation can be shared with the various institutions with whom the COE Center for Documentation & Area-Transcultural Studies has collaborative agreements, enabling the efficient realization of delegated collection activities.
3-2. Publishing Research Results
We will offer a function to publish research results of the various groups within the COE Center for Documentation & Area-Transcultural Studies on the Internet. This will enable the research results of the various groups to be utilized by the academic community both in and outside our institution, while becoming widely available to the public as well.

This digital library project's first and primary objective is to provide systematic location information and academic information on historical documentation collections in response to the requirements of research specialists in the area of trans-cultural historical documentation, as well as the sophisticated research needs of society in general. At the same time, the project will establish various functions in order to publish a variety of relevant information on Asia and the Pacific. From the second year onwards, we will introduce the various technologies that will be required for this purpose.