The CSEAS library has been a most essential foundation on in the promotion of research activities  in the field of South­east Asian studies. As the result of ongoing collection devel­opment focusing on academic publications on Southeast Asia, the library holds approximately 270,000 items and  as­sures access by both domestic and overseas patrons through its open access policy and reference services. The library has strong emphasis on the publications published in Southeast Asia and especially, for the Thailand and Indonesia, up to date book acquisitions are operated through The CSEAS over­seas liaison offices in Bangkok and Jakarta. In addition, the library also collects many archival materials from colonial period in Microfilm form.

While the library is devoted to collecting and providing access to historical documents and academic works on Southeast Asia, it is also keen on responding to the changes in Southeast Asia and working together with researchers. For example, the CSEAS co-research program now has a special slot for document based on research and provides sufficient funding for acquisition of library materials related to pro­posed  documents   based research. This open and collaborative atmosphere of the library is also created by the librarians that  the library receives as foreign fellows.  Over the past 20 years since 1986, many  librarians  from  Southeast  Asia and United States have spent 6 months at the library and not only pursued  their academic research  interest but also con­tributed to the development of the library in various ways.　We are looking forward to working many others in the near future.