THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS : A FOCUS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NIGERIA IN NON-BOOK MATERIAL (NBM)

Abstract

Non-Book Media (NBM) are information-bearing media that are not in the form of a conventional book, such as verbal information in a continuous text organized in a linear order usually in print or paper. They are important because our society is deeply rooted in oral tradition, and they have remained with us since the invention of printing. The National Library of Nigeria has a full mandate to collect NBM, and providing these special materials in addition to official documents and other Nigerian materials will make the library truly special and great. The National Library should collaborate with other libraries in the field of education technology, such as the Nigeria Educational Technology Centre, Kaduna, and schools, to bring essential services closer to the rest of the country. Additionally, the Library should consider pilot projects for schools and other institutions that want to start providing NBM services.