Computer networking in the National Library of Nigeria : a proposal

We live today in an era of information explosion, ever increasing inflation, limited budgets for competing national priorities, and a technology that is developing with insistent rapidity. The reality of this experience presents huge challenges for the management and organisation of the various systems that are developed within a particular environment, especially in all information aspects. This research work is an attempt to highlight the current trends in computer networking of libraries in various parts of the world and to explain the means by which the distribution of information resources has been enhanced by the procedure. This is presented in an analytical exposition of computer networking development and application in libraries. It describes the functional characteristics of computer networking and the setting in which computer networking technology and standards networks are used. It reviews computer networking as a tool for co-ordination and co-operation among libraries and information centres. It also looks at its application in the development and efficient use of information resources, examines the structure of computer networks and the operations they perform. This research has revealed a great deal of need for computer networking in the developing countries and indicates that the National Library of Nigeria(NLN) should seek to become computer networked in order to take her rightful position among the National Libraries(NLs) in Africa as the 'giant of Africa'.