CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The National library of Nigeria is the apex library of Nigeria. It was established under the National library of Nigeria Act NO.6 of 1964 and National Library Decree No. 29 of 1970 with the aim of extending library and information services to the nation. The major objectives of the library include the following: To assemble, maintain and extend a collection of information materials of different types and in all forms (print and electronic) appropriate for a library of the highest standing; To make the facilities of the National library of Nigeria available to members of the public and others in proper terms; To prepare and publish catalogues, indexes, etc. To provide assistance to persons and organization libraries and to develop National Bibliography of Nigeria and National Bibliographic services. Others are: To collect books on contemporary or new ideas from international organizations; To issue International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) and International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN) to publishing organizations and individuals (Enyia, 1992).It is also expected to stay afloat intellectually by receiving legal deposits(all works by Nigerian writers). Efforts have been made over the years on the use of traditional library tools to provide effective library services to library users and consequently achieve the objectives of the library. The use of catalogue cards, newspaper indexing and press cuttings, use of post offices for document delivery and correspondence were some of the commonly used traditional library tools. However, the traditional library tools were soon found to be incapable of coping with the management of large volumes of information materials that emanated from information explosion and global information management (Oyelude, in Madu,Â
