Library Service without Book Loans: A Future Strategy for Nigerian University Libraries?

The place of circulation among other library functions is discussed and it is asserted that the reader′s sole interest is the immediate satisfaction of his/her reading need. The problems of collection development in Nigeria are analysed and it is concluded that economic difficulties and certain government fiscal measures have combined to make it impossible for Nigerian university libraries to keep their collections up to date. It is argued that as economic conditions seem unlikely to improve, the librarian′s major concern should be to preserve existing stocks and ensure their continued availability for use.