CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
 Libraries are the repositories of knowledge and form an integral part of education. Libraries have a long history, starting with the chained and closed-access libraries of earlier times to the present day hybrid, digital and virtual libraries that use the latest technology for provision of information through various services. Accordingly, librarians have also changed from storekeepers who were concerned with protection of books against theft, mutilation and pilferage, to that of information officers navigators, and cybrarians who find themselves in the vast ocean of reading materia<strong>THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALS IN MARKETING LIBRARY PRODUCTS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN RIVERS STATE</strong>ls and are busy in satisfying their clients who want anytime and anywhere information. University libraries are the nerve centers of university institutions, and must support teaching, research, and other academic programmes. University libraries serve their students, staff and faculty. Because larger institutions may have several libraries on their campuses dedicated to serving particular schools such as law and science libraries, university librarianship offers a great opportunity to utilize subject expertise. Professional status varies by institution, but many university libraries have faculty status including tenure. Federal universities are academic institutions established and funded by the federal government for teaching, learning, and research including community development. Today’s universities libraries are involved in a variety of challenging activities. They may:
Ø Consult with individuals in analyzing, identifying and fulfilling their information needs.
Ø Create campus-wide information literacy programmes and deliver classroom instruction to strengthen information literacy skills.
Ø Select, organize, and facilitate access to information in a variety of formats.
Ø Keep abreast of technological advancements and develop strategies to take advantage of them.
Ø Plan implement and administer computer-based systems, electronic databases design and manage websites.
