| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1902(M.35) | Kobe Higher Commercial School opened. |
| 1903(M.36) | The Kobe Higher Commercial School Library opened (the Library Division was established in 1903, and night time opening hours began in 1907). |
| 1921(T.10) | Kobe Higher Technical School opened (the Library Division was also established). |
| 1933(S.8) | The Library for Social Sciences’ Main Building was completed. |
| 1949(S.24) | Kobe University was established under the new system. 4 branch libraries were opened: Rokkodai, Sumiyoshi, Nagata and Himeji. |
1964(S.39) | The library system was reorganized into the Central Library and 6 branch libraries (Rokkodai branch, Faculty of Letters, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering and Liberal Arts Division). | 1965(S.40) | Kobe Medical College merged with Kobe University. |
| 1969(S.44) | Hyogo Prefectural University of Agriculture merged with Kobe University. |
| 1981(S.56) | The administrative building of Library for Social Sciences was built. |
| 1984(S.59) | The Library for Science and Technology was built. |
| 1986(S.61) | Designated as a National Center for Overseas Periodicals by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. |
| 1989(H.1) | The Online Catalog (OPAC) began to be provided. |
| 1995(H.7) | After the occurrence of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, a collection of materials on the disaster was installed. The Library website was formally started. |
| 1996(H.8) | A new building for the Library for Medical Sciences was built and the Library for Human Development Sciences was renovated. |
| 1997(H.9) | The web version of the Online Catalog (OPAC) was set up. Kobe University merged with the School of Allied Medical Sciences and the Library for Health Sciences was established. |
| 2002(H.14) | Joining the Japan National University Library Consortia, the e-journal providing service started in earnest. |
| 2003(H.15) | Kobe University merged with Kobe University of Mercantile Marine and the Library for Maritime Sciences was established. The Library for Social Science was designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) by the Japanese government. |
| 2004(H.16) | The General Library was established. Kobe University became a National University Corporation and the Library reorganized its offices. |
| 2006(H.18) | The Kobe University Repository “Kernel” was set up. |
| 2007(H.19) | A MOU was concluded with Korea Maritime and Ocean University Library. |
| 2010(H.22) | The Kobe University Archives were installed. The Digital Archive Project won an IRI “Library of the Year 2010” award of excellence. |
| 2013(H.25) | The Library for Social Sciences was renovated. |
| 2015(H.27) | Learning Commons (Tsurukabuto 1st Campus) opened. |