The history of Waseda University Library begins in 1882 with the establishment of a library room in the school building when the University was originally founded as Tokyo Senmon Gakko. When the name was changed to Waseda University in 1902, a separate library facility was constructed. In 1925, a new library building (the present Building No. 2) was completed. In 1991 the Central Library was opened, and the functions of the main library were relocated there.
| 1882 | The forerunner of the Library is established in a lecture room of the Tokyo Senmon Gakko building. |
| 1889 | The library is moved to the new Auditorium. |
| 1900 | The library changes its name from Tokyo Senmon Gakko Toshoshitsu (Tokyo Senmon Gakko Library Room) to Tokyo Senmon Gakko Toshokan (Tokyo Senmon Gakko Library). |
| 1902 | – Tokyo Senmon Gakko becomes Waseda University. – The first Waseda University Library is inaugurated. |
| 1905 | A Tang-period copy of chapter 59 of Raiki Shihon Sogi, a commentary on the Liji (Classic of Rites), is donated by Tanaka Mitsuaki. The chapter deals with the etiquette and conduct of funerals and is a national treasure. |
| 1914 | A Tang-period copy of vol. 9 of the 6th century Chinese dictionary Yupian (J. Gyokuhen, national treasure) and Todaiji Monjo (Todaiji Documents, important cultural property) are donated. |
| 1925 | New Library completed (the present Building No.2). |
| 1927 | The painting Meian (Light and Darkness) by Yokoyama Taikan and Shimomura Kanzan is hung in the Library. |
| 1928 | Reading room enlarged. |
| 1934 | – Book storage expanded. – Faculty reading room and graduate student reading room inaugurated. |
| 1951 | First issue of Toshokan Geppo published. |
| 1955 | – Reference Room opens. – Reference service inaugurated. – AV materials section added to the Library. |
| 1959 | First issue of Waseda Daigaku Toshokan Kiyou (Bulletin of Waseda University Library) published. |
| 1976 | Publication of the series Waseda Daigaku Toshokan Shiryo Sosho (Waseda University Library Materials) begins. |
| 1982 | Computers make their first appearance in the library. |
| 1984 | – Publication of Waseda Daigaku Eiin Sosho (Facsimile Editions of Rare Japanese Books in the Collection of Waseda University Library) begins. – First issues of Fumikura and Laibu-topia, PR magazines of Waseda University Library, are published. – The decision is made to transform the University baseball ground into a new Central Library. |
| 1985 | – Honjo Library inaugurated. – Scholarly Information System (WINE) begins operation. |
| 1986 | Cooperative agreement with Keio University begins. |
| 1987 | – Tokorozawa Library opens. – Meiji Era Materials Microform Project begins. |
| 1989 | Science & Engineering Library inaugurated. |
| 1990 | Waseda Daigaku Toshokan Shi (History of Waseda University Library) and Waseda Daigaku Toshokan Kan-zo Shiryo zuroku (Catalogue of Rare Materials in the Collection of Waseda University Library) published. |
| 1991 | Central Library and Center for Scholarly Information inaugurated. |
| 1992 | Toyama Library inaugurated. |
| 1994 | – Takata Sanae Memorial Research Library inaugurated. – Otsuki Gentaku Collection, part of the Yogaku Bunko (Western Studies Collection), is designated an Important Cultural Property. – Waseda begins providing data to OCLC. By 2001 approximately 560,000 records have been uploaded. |
| 1999 | New library OPAC WINE system (INNOPAC) begins operation. |
| 2000 | The Library begins using NACSIS-ILL system. |
| 2001 | – An automated storage retrieval system is installed on the third level basement floor of the Central Library. Its storage capacity is 500,000 vols. – Cooperative agreement with Doshisha University begins. |
| 2002 | – Cooperative agreement with Columbia University Libraries begins. – Cooperative agreement with Korea University Library begins. |
| 2004 | – Cooperative agreement with Hitotsubashi University begins. |
| 2005 | – Kotenseki Sogo Database (Japanese & Chinese Classics Online Database) inaugurated. By 2015, 300,0000 items have been digitized. – Waseda University Institutional Repository built. |
| 2007 | Tsunoda Ryusaku Exhibition and an international symposium are held to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Waseda University. |
| 2009 | – Learning Support Committee established, with the aim of helping the Library better support student learning at the University. – Academic Liaison librarians begin work. – Student Commons (Learning Commons) installed in the Central Library. – Cooperative agreement with Kansai University begins. |
| 2010 | – A bronze statue of our first director, Ichishima Kenkichi, is installed in the entrance hall of the Central Library. – Waseda University Library hosts the OCLC 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Council Conference. |
| 2013 | – The first Library Week is held. A variety of events, exhibitions, and self-guided tours encourage new students to enjoy using the Library. – LIVS (Library Volunteer Staff), a student group dedicated to fostering deep familiarity with the Library, is founded. |
| 2016 | – The Central Library celebrates its 25th anniversary with special exhibitions, lectures, and virtual-reality tours of emaki (picture scrolls) in the Library’s collection. |
| 2017 | – Memorandum signed with Keio University on Strengthening Cooperation by Jointly Adopting an Integrated Library Management System. – Learning Commons opens at Tokorozawa Library – Library Learning Assistants (LA) begin work. – Waseda University Library hosts the OCLC 9th Asia Pacific Regional Council Conference. |
| 2018 | – Waseda University Mission Statement decided. – A major renovation of the Central Library sees new Learning Commons installed. |
| 2019 | – New library system (Alma), jointly operated with Keio University, goes into operation. – Learning Commons opens at Science & Engineering Library. |
| 2020 | – A major renovation of the Central Library sees new Learning Commons completed. – Phased admission resumed following temporary closure due to the spread of Covid-19 infection. |
| 2021 | – Waseda-Keio Consortium for the Promotion of Digitization of Japanese Books begins. |
| 2022 | – IIIF project begins. |
| 1887.9 – 1889.12 | Tetsutaro IMAI |
| 1889.12 – 1890.8 | Taichiro ITO |
| 1890.9 – 1891.1 | Kakutaro ITAYA |
| 1891.1 – 1895.9 | Toshio YAMAZAWA |
| 1895.9 – 1900.3? | Toshio YOSHIDA |
| 1900.3 – 1902.8 | Kazutami UKITA |
| 1902.8 – 1902.9 | Kenkichi ICHISHIMA |
| 1902.10 – 1917.8 | Kenkichi ICHISHIMA |
| 1919.3 – 1923.11 | Isoo ABE |
| 1923.11 – 1947.2 | Kimio HAYASHI |
| 1947.2 – 1953.3 | Chibiki OKAMURA |
| 1953.4 – 1958.10 | Minoru HARADA |
| 1958.10 – 1964.9 | Jitsuo OONO |
| 1964.10 – 1969.3 | Hachiro SASAKI |
| 1969.4 – 1970.7 | Tomitaro HIRATA |
| 1970.7 – 1970.11 | Minahiko OGINO |
| 1970.11 – 1972.11 | Tomitaro HIRATA |
| 1972.11 – 1982.11 | Harukaze FURUKAWA |
| 1982.11 – 1986.11 | Taizo HAMADA |
| 1986.11 – 1990.9 | Takayasu OKUSHIMA |
| 1990.9 – 1994.11 | Yoji NOGUCHI |
| 1994.11 – 1998.11 | Norio OKAZAWA |
| 1998.11 – 2002.11 | Michitaro URAKAWA |
| 2002.11 – 2006.9 | Nobuyuki KAMIYA |
| 2006.9 – 2010.9 | Tetsuo KATO |
| 2010.9 – 2014.9 | Shozo IIJIMA |
| 2014.9 – 2020.9 | Yoshiaki FUKAZAWA |
| 2020.9 -2024.9 | Gaye ROWLEY |
| 2024.9- | Wataru KAMEYAMA |
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