The Association of National University Libraries, Japan had already determined shifting to the "Japan Association of National University Libraries" from April 2004 in the 50th Commemoration General Assembly in May 2003, the bylaws of the Association were approved in the 2003 3rd Board meeting held lately.
The English name of the Association and its abbreviation, JANUL, were also determined.
In the new bylaws, the missions of the Association are clarified reflecting the idea of the corporatization of national universities. In terms of the activities, activities for improving ability of the staffs and for the coordination and cooperation with domestic and foreign organizations are incorporated especially as well as for research and investigations and promoting inter-library use. Moreover, while attaining slimming down of the organization, such as abolition of the Executive Board and Sectional meetings and a reduction in the number of the Board libraries, introduction of the director system in their duty, the change to "people" from "library" of a committee composition unit, and activation of region association activity are stated.