Ezra Shiloba Gbaje
Shiloba@yahoo.com
Department of Library and Information Science
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria Kaduna State
Nigeria
The Virtual Library provides access to tools such as databases, electronic journals, alerting services, online reference tools, and quality-selected web resources that improve the quality of teaching and research. Unfortunately various virtual library initiatives in Nigeria within the past six years have remained a mirage. This desk study examined the national library virtual project initiatives and identifies the challenges of its implementation within the Nigerian context. Misconceptions of what constitute a virtual library, unavailability of the basic information infrastructure, poor policy implementation and lack of web technologies skilled digital/systems librarians have been identified as some of the challenges in the implementation of the national Virtual Library Project. The study also highlights the process of building a virtual library, collection development, acquisition and access of electronic resources in the virtual library, which are the basic skills required for the deployment and sustainability of the national virtual library.
Cite: Gbaje, E. S. (2007). Implementing a national virtual library for higher institutions in Nigeria. LIBRES, 17(2), 1‑15. https://doi.org/10.32655/LIBRES.2007.2.5