The East Asian Reading Room may be used by any member of the Library but is intended primarily for those wishing to consult material from the Japanese, Chinese and Korean collections.
It is part of the Aoi Pavilion, which was opened in March 1998 and named in recognition of a generous benefaction from Mr Tadao Aoi. In addition to the East Asian Reading Room on the first floor, the Aoi Pavilion contains the Library's collections of Japanese, Chinese and Korean material in two bookstacks on the Ground Floor and Basement (mostly open access), together with a Seminar Room and offices for the staff of the Library's Japanese and Chinese departments.