Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster

Photo collection of Damage to Kobe University Libraries

This photo collection is a record of damage to libraries taken by university staff immediately after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred early in the morning of January 17th, 1995. This collection is recorded in three CD-ROMs.

Library for Humanity and Social Sciences

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
1-1 Floor guide 　 　 ->
1-2 Around Check-out counter (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down -> ->
1-3 Around Check-out counter (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down ->
1-4 Around Check-out counter (2nd floor) Staff putting books/periodicals back on shelves ->
1-5 Main reading room (2nd floor) Wall-mounted portrait fell down ->
1-6 Lounge (2nd floor) Stacks bolted to the wall fell down and hit sofa ->
1-7 Lounge (2nd floor) Stacks bolted to the wall fell down and hit sofa ->
1-8 Lounge (2nd floor) Double-stack shelves fell down/damaged ->
1-9 Catalog room (1st floor) Card boxes dropped. Cases pushed out. -> ->
1-10 Reading room (1st floor) Stacks fell down (joined together at the top), materials damaged under stacks ->
1-11 Reading room (1st floor) Stacks fell down (joined together at the top), materials damaged under stacks ->
1-12 Reading room (1st floor) Stacks fell down (joined together at the top), materials damaged under stacks ->
1-13 Reading room (1st floor) Stacks fell down (joined together at the top), materials damaged under stacks ->
1-14 Reading room (1st floor) Stacks fell down (joined together at the top), materials damaged under stacks ->
1-15 Reading room (1st floor) Books scattered by slanted stacks. No damage to PC. ->
1-16 Reading room (1st floor) Staff putting books back on shelves (Stacks restored, shelves assembled) ->
1-17 Reading room (1st floor) Staff putting books back on shelves (Stacks restored, shelves assembled) ->
1-18 Reading room (1st floor) Staff putting books back on shelves (Stacks restored, shelves assembled) ->
1-19 Reading room (1st floor) Materials being put in order ->
1-20 Ceiling of compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) Ceiling damaged by severe displacement of pillar -> ->
1-21 Wall of compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) Stacks fell down ->
1-22 Wall of compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) Stacks fell down ->
1-23 Electric compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) Stacks slanted, books dropped and scattered on the floor ->
1-24 Electric compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) View of damage seen from the side ->
1-25 Electric compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-26 Electric compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) View of damage seen from the side, severe damage on the floor ->
1-27 Electric compact stacks in Administration (3rd floor) View of damage, shelves moved ->
1-28 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Periodical shelves fell down -> ->
1-29 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Periodical shelves fell down ->
1-30 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Periodical shelves fell down ->
1-31 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Periodical shelves fell down ->
1-32 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Bulletins scattered (shelves were not damaged because materials were light) ->
1-33 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Bulletins scattered (shelves were not damaged because materials were light) ->
1-34 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Bulletin stacks slanted ->
1-35 Deposit library for Humanity and Social Sciences (2nd floor) Shelves restored and periodicals put back ->
1-36 Machine room in Administration (6th floor) Broken fluorescent lamp -> ->
1-37 Floor in stack building A gap between floor and water pipe caused by the quake -> ->
1-38 Micro-material cabinet in stack building C Damage caused by stacked metallic cabinets (unlocked) ->
1-39 Micro-material cabinet in stack building C Materials scattered from unlocked cabinets (Scattered microfiche) ->
1-40 Ceiling in stack building Fluorescent lamp damaged by slanted shelves ->
1-41 Stack building C Books dropped from stacks and scattered on the floor ->
1-42 Stack building Shelves slanted ->
1-43 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
1-44 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
1-45 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
1-46 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
1-47 Side wall of stack building C Stacks slanted -> ->
1-48 Side wall of stack building C Stacks slanted ->
1-49 Stack building Fallen books ->
1-50 Special collection shelves at stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-51 Top floor of stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-52 Top floor of stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-53 Top floor of stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-54 Top floor of stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-55 Top floor of stack building Topmost shelf slanted (stacks not fixed against the ceiling) ->
1-56 Office in Administration (4th floor) All stacks slanted, wall-mount cabinet was not damaged -> ->
1-57 Office in Administration (4th floor) Word processor fell down and was partially damaged ->
1-58 Manager room in Administration (5th floor) Upper steel-made shelves fell down. TV has fallen from shelves. ->
1-59 Office in Administration (5th floor) View of the room after cleaning (emergency provisions prepared with portable burner) ->
1-60 Kitchen in Administration (5th floor) Broken pieces of china and glasses (smell of gas, smell of liquor) ->
1-61 Kitchen in Administration (6th floor) Broken pieces of china and glasses (smell of gas, smell of liquor) ->
1-62 Landing in Administration (3rd floor) Fallen catalog card boxes ->
1-63 Landing in Administration (4th floor) Catalog card boxes dropped (fallen in the direction of the quake) ->
1-64 Toilet in Administration (5th floor) Broken tiles caused by distortion ->
1-65 Toilet in Administration (5th floor) Broken tiles caused by distortion ->
1-66 View of the city from Administration (6th floor) Distant view of Kobe City (9:00am, January 17th, 1995) -> ->
1-67 View of the city from Administration (6th floor) Distant view of Kobe City (9:00am, January 17th, 1995) ->
1-68 View of the city from the rooftop of Administration View of Kobe City (2:00pm, January 17th, 1995) ->
1-69 View of the city from the rooftop of Administration View of Kobe City (2:00pm, January 17th, 1995) ->
1-70 View of the city from the rooftop of Administration View of Kobe City (2:00pm, January 17th, 1995) ->
1-71 View of the city from the rooftop of Administration View of Kobe City (2:00pm, January 17th, 1995) ->
1-72 View of the city from the rooftop of Administration View of Kobe City (2:00pm, January 17th, 1995) ->

Library of Sciences and Technology

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
1-73 Floor guide 　 　 ->
1-74 Check-out counter (2nd floor) Wall stacks slanted -> ->
1-75 Check-out counter (2nd floor) Wall stacks slanted ->
1-76 Check-out counter (2nd floor) Wall stacks slanted and hit an electric typewriter ->
1-77 Card corner (2nd floor) The upper part of the double stack card box fell down ->
1-78 Reading room (2nd floor) Stacks slanted ->
1-79 Reading room (2nd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-80 Reading room (2nd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-81 Reading room (2nd floor) Joint of stacks damaged ->
1-82 Staff's reading room (3rd floor) Slanted wall stacks hit the desk -> ->
1-83 Reading room (3rd floor) Slanted wall stacks hit the desk ->
1-84 New periodicals corner (3rd floor) A gap between upper and lower double-stack periodical shelves ->
1-85 New periodicals corner (3rd floor) A gap between upper and lower double-stack periodical shelves ->
1-86 Reading room (3rd floor) Wall stacks slanted ->
1-87 Reading room (3rd floor) Stacks deformed to diamond-shape in the direction of the quake ->
1-88 Reading room (3rd floor) Stacks deformed to diamond-shape in the direction of the quake ->
1-89 Reading room (3rd floor) Wall stacks slanted ->
1-90 Reading room (3rd floor) Wall stacks slanted ->
1-91 Reading room (3rd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-92 Reading room (3rd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-93 Reading room (3rd floor) Wall stack hit the next stack ->
1-94 Reading room (3rd floor) Materials dropped and scattered ->
1-95 Compact shelving (1st floor) Compact shelves moved -> ->
1-96 Compact shelving (1st floor) Dehumidifier moved ->
1-97 Compact shelving (1st floor) Materials dropped and lever unusable ->
1-98 Locker room (1st floor) Lockers slanted ->
1-99 Locker room (1st floor) Lockers slanted ->
1-100 Office (4th floor) The upper shelf of double-stack periodical shelves fell down -> ->
2-2 Office (4th floor) Almost no damage to the PC ->
2-3 Office (4th floor) The upper part of the cabinet fell onto the desk ->
2-4 Office (4th floor) Cabinet fell down and hit the desk ->
2-5 Office (4th floor) Card box hit the desk ->
2-6 Meeting room (4th floor) TV fell from the TV cabinet ->
2-7 Meeting room (4th floor) TV fell from the TV cabinet ->
2-8 Compact shelving (1st floor) Periodicals in sorting scattered -> ->
2-9 Compact shelving (1st floor) Periodicals in sorting scattered ->
2-10 Compact shelving (1st floor) Periodicals in sorting scattered ->
2-11 Compact shelving (1st floor) Periodicals in sorting scattered ->
2-12 Preparation room (1st floor) Composite shelves slanted ->
2-15 Lounge (4th floor) Pieces of china fallen from the cupboard and broken -> ->
2-16 Air conditioning nozzle in reading room (3rd floor) Ornamental hardware on air conditioning nozzle fell down -> ->
2-17 Air conditioning nozzle in reading room (3rd floor) Ornamental hardware on air conditioning nozzle fell down ->
2-18 Air conditioning nozzle in reading room (3rd floor) Ornamental hardware on air conditioning nozzle displaced ->

Library for Humanities

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
2-19 Floor guide 　 　 ->
2-20 Check-out counter (1st floor) Stacks fell down -> ->
2-21 Office (1st floor) Stacks hit an typewriter ->
2-22 Office (1st floor) Fallen stacks ->
2-23 Office (1st floor) Slanted shelves, stacks, and cabinets ->
2-24 Office (1st floor) Slanted shelves, stacks, and cabinets ->
2-25 Journal room (2nd floor) Glass on stacks damaged by fall -> ->
2-26 Journal room (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down ->
2-27 Journal room (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down ->
2-28 Journal room (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves hit the desk ->
2-29 Journal room (2nd floor) Composite periodical shelves slanted ->
2-30 Journal room (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical shelves hit the desk ->
2-31 Reading room (2nd floor) Wall shelves fell down -> ->
2-32 Office (1st floor) Periodical shelves for sorting slanted -> ->
2-33 Reading room (2nd floor) Glass on stacks damaged by fall -> ->
2-34 Reading room (2nd floor) Cabinet fell down ->
2-35 Reading room (2nd floor) Damage to the reading room ->
2-36 Reading room (2nd floor) Wall stacks fell down ->
2-37 Reading room (2nd floor) Wall stacks fell down ->
2-38 Reading room (2nd floor) Cabinet fell down ->
2-39 Reading room (2nd floor) Books scattered from the stacks ->
2-40 Compact shelving (1st floor) Compact shelves moved -> ->
2-41 Compact shelving (1st floor) Books scattered on the floor ->
2-42 Compact shelving (1st floor) Compact shelves moved ->
2-43 Compact shelving (1st floor) Books seen from the floor ->
2-44 Compact shelving (1st floor) Books seen from the floor ->
2-45 Compact shelving (1st floor) Books seen from the floor ->
2-46 Compact shelving (1st floor) Electric shelves distorted ->
2-47 Micro-materials room (2nd floor) Shelves fell down -> ->
2-48 Micro-materials room (2nd floor) Shelves fell down ->

Library for Cross-Cultural Studies and Liberal Arts

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
2-49 Floor guide 　 　 ->
2-50 Office (2nd floor) Stacks deformed to diamond-shape in the direction of the quake -> ->
2-51 Office (2nd floor) Stacks deformed to diamond-shape in the direction of the quake ->
2-52 Office (2nd floor) Stacks deformed to diamond-shape in the direction of the quake ->
2-53 Office (2nd floor) Wall stacks hit sofa ->
2-54 Bulletin corner (2nd floor) Shelves deformed to diamond-shape -> ->
2-55 Bulletin corner (2nd floor) Shelves deformed to diamond-shape ->
2-56 Reference book corner at reference book room (2nd floor) Shelves fell down, materials scattered ->
2-57 Reference book corner at reference book room (2nd floor) Wall shelves slanted ->
2-58 Reference material corner (2nd floor) Wall shelves slanted ->
2-59 Periodical reading corner for students (2nd floor) Periodical stacks slanted ->
2-60 Periodical reading corner for students (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical stacks fell down ->
2-61 Periodical reading corner for students (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical stacks hit the desk ->
2-62 Periodical reading corner for students (2nd floor) Double-stack periodical stacks fell down ->
2-63 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. -> ->
2-64 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-65 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-66 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-67 Reading room (2nd floor) Books dropped from composite stacks and scattered ->
2-68 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-69 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-70 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-71 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-72 Reading room (2nd floor) Composite stacks fell down. Joints had no effect. ->
2-73 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered -> ->
2-74 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
2-75 Stack building Composite stacks slanted ->
2-76 Stack building Wall stacks fell down ->
2-77 Stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
2-78 Stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
2-79 Stairs at stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
2-80 Side wall of stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
2-81 Stack building Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
2-82 Side wall of stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
2-83 Extended joints at stack building Crack on the wall ->
2-84 Stack building Books dropped from composite stacks and scattered ->
2-85 Stack building Composite stacks slanted ->
2-86 Joint in reading room (2nd floor) Joint between buildings distorted -> ->
2-87 Joint in reading room Wall by joint between buildings dislocated ->
2-88 Joint in reading room Wall by joint between buildings dislocated ->
2-89 Joint in reading room Joint between buildings ->
2-90 Air conditioning nozzle in reading room (2nd floor) Air conditioning nozzle damaged ->

Library for Human-Development Sciences

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
3-1 Floor guide 　 　 ->
3-2 Office (2nd floor) Wall shelves hit the desk -> ->
3-3 Office (2nd floor) Scattered room ->
3-4 From reading room to Check-out counter (2nd floor) Card boxes hit the Check-out counter ->
3-5 From reading room to Check-out counter (2nd floor) Card boxes hit the Check-out counter ->
3-6 Check-out counter (2nd floor) Card boxes hit the Check-out counter ->
3-7 Check-out counter (2nd floor) Card boxes hit the Check-out counter ->
3-8 Ceiling of reading room (2nd floor) Cables between ceiling and fluorescent light displaced ->
3-9 Ceiling of reading room (2nd floor) Cables between ceiling and fluorescent light displaced ->
3-10 Entrance to stack building (2nd floor) Wall stacks at entrance slanted ->
3-11 Stairs at stack building Stairs around the entrance -> ->
3-12 Stairs at stack building Damage to 1st floor seen from the stairs at mezzanine ->
3-13 Stack building Scattered books from stacks ->
3-14 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-15 Stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
3-16 Stack building Wall stacks slanted ->
3-17 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-18 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-19 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-20 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-21 Stack building Scattered books from wall stacks ->
3-22 Reading room for instructors (2nd floor) Materials scattered from slanted wall stacks -> ->
3-23 Reading room for instructors (2nd floor) Materials scattered from slanted wall stacks ->
3-24 Local materials room Double-stack special collection shelves slanted ->
3-25 Local materials room Double-stack special collection shelves slanted ->
3-26 Local materials room Water leaked from steam plumbing and materials got wet ->

Library for Medical Sciences

No. Location Damage Zoom out Full-scale
3-27 Floor guide 　 　 ->
3-28 Entrance hall The upper part of glass door broken, lockers slanted -> ->
3-29 Entrance hall Lockers slanted, shelves in Check-out counter slanted ->
3-30 Entrance hall Lockers hit the glass door, and broke glasses ->
3-31 Entrance hall Lockers slanted ->
3-32 Conversation room Stacks fell down ->
3-33 Office (1st floor) Periodical shelves in Check-out counter hit the desk ->
3-34 Office (1st floor) Cabinet in Check-out counter slanted ->
3-35 Entrance to office of library manager (2nd floor) Upper part of the wall at the entrance cracked -> ->
3-36 Entrance to office of library manager (2nd floor) Upper part of the wall at the entrance cracked ->
3-37 Office (2nd floor) Clock stopped at the time when the earthquake occurred ->
3-38 Office (2nd floor) Cabinet damaged ->
3-39 Office (2nd floor) The upper part of the cabinet fell down ->
3-40 Office (2nd floor) The upper part of the cabinet hit the desk ->
3-41 Office (2nd floor) Damage to the room ->
3-42 Office (2nd floor) TV fell from the desk ->
3-43 Office (2nd floor) Book rack fell down, and card cases dropped ->
3-44 Office (2nd floor) Staff putting everything back in position ->
3-45 Office (2nd floor) Cabinet damaged ->
3-46 Office (2nd floor) Double-stack storage fell down ->
3-47 Office (2nd floor) Double-stack storage fell down ->
3-48 Copy room (2nd floor) Rotary press fell down -> ->
3-49 Photo darkroom (2nd floor) Printing machine almost fell down ->
3-50 Copy room (2nd floor) Partitions damaged by the desks ->
3-51 Storage room (2nd floor) Supplies fell from the shelves and were damaged ->
3-52 Stack building (2nd floor) Shelves slanted ->
3-53 Conversation room (2nd floor) Cupboard hit the desk ->
3-54 Conversation room (2nd floor) Broken pieces of china and glasses ->
3-55 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down, new periodicals scattered -> ->
3-56 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Double-stack periodical shelves hit the desk ->
3-57 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Double-stack periodical shelves hit the desk ->
3-58 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Damaged periodical shelves ->
3-59 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down ->
3-60 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Double-stack periodical shelves fell down ->
3-61 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Damaged periodical shelves ->
3-62 New periodicals corner (1st floor) Damaged periodical shelves ->
3-63 Reference material corner (1st floor) Reference material stack fell down -> ->
3-64 Reference material corner (1st floor) Desks damaged ->
3-65 Reference material corner (1st floor) Desks damaged ->
3-66 Reference material corner (1st floor) Shelves fell down and became damaged ->
3-67 Reading room (1st floor) Damage to entire reading room ->
3-68 Reading room (1st floor) Damage to entire reading room ->
3-69 Extended periodical stacks (1st floor) Scattered periodicals seen from the reading room ->
3-70 Reading room (1st floor) Desks damaged ->
3-71 Stacks at the window in the reading room (1st floor) Fallen reference materials -> ->
3-72 Stacks at the window in the reading room (1st floor) Fallen reference materials ->
3-73 Side of compact shelving in the reading room (1st floor) Fallen reference materials ->
3-74 Stacks at the window in the reading room (1st floor) Fallen reference materials ->
3-75 Stacks at the window in the reading room (1st floor) Fallen reference materials ->
3-76 Inner stacks in the reading room (1st floor) Stacks at the window slanted ->
3-77 Multi-tier stacks (1st floor) Bound periodicals dropped and scattered -> ->
3-78 Stack building (1st floor) Bound periodicals dropped and scattered ->
3-79 Stack building (1st floor) Bound periodicals dropped and scattered ->
3-80 Compact shelving in reading room (1st floor) Damage to electric compact shelves ->
3-81 Compact shelving in reading room (1st floor) Displaced Electric compact shelves ->
3-82 Compact shelving in reading room (1st floor) Bound periodicals dropped from electric compact shelves and scattered ->
3-83 Reading room (1st floor) Damaged chairs ->
3-84 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from wall-mount periodical shelves and scattered -> ->
3-85 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-86 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-87 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-88 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-89 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-90 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-91 Multi-tier stacks at mezzanine Bound periodicals dropped from periodical shelves and scattered ->
3-92 Multi-tier stacks on the south of the reading room (2nd floor) Periodical shelves slanted -> ->
3-93 Stacks in reading room (2nd floor) Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
3-94 Multi-tier stacks at east side of the reading room (2nd floor) Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
3-95 Multi-tier stacks on the south of the reading room (2nd floor) Scattered bound periodicals seen from the reading room ->
3-96 Side multi-tier stacks in reading room (2nd floor) Periodical shelves slanted ->
3-97 Side multi-tier stacks in reading room (2nd floor) Scattered bound periodicals seen from the reading room ->
3-98 Inner reading room (2nd floor) Books dropped from stacks and scattered ->
3-99 Wall stacks in meeting room (2nd floor) Stacks slanted ->