"Bunko" are local mini-libraries for children in Japan, operated voluntarily by individuals or groups of parents, intended to nurture children's reading interest by offering them an inviting reading environment. In 1993, there were an estimated 4,000 bunko in Japan, with approximately 32,000 adult bunko members (90% female). Bunko members cooperate with other bunko and public librarians to exchange experiences, study children's books, and promote the development of local children's reading interests. More than 80% of bunko do not charge any membership fee for child members. Individual bunko collections vary from less than 100 books to more than 3,000 books. To encourage children to read, adult bunko members carefully select books for the bunko by considering the content of the books and children's reading interests; read aloud; conduct book talks; tell stories; display books; and have children and adults take turns reading to each other. The joy of reading is shared indirectly by other activities: storyboard theater, origami, top making, puppet shows, and outdoor activities. Problems at bunko include finding a location for the bunko, finding good volunteers, lack of funding for book purchases and other activities, a decreasing number of child members due to a declining birth rate, demands on children to prepare for school entrance examinations, a change in children's reading tastes, and the unsympathetic attitudes of local people and authorities who feel that developing literacy is best left to formal education. Two lists of guidelines for and benefits of"Sharing the Joys of Reading by Parents and Children," and a table of facts on Japan, Japanese schools and libraries are provided. (SWC)