160 CHAPTER THIRTEEN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARIES Aminu Saleh Introduction Information and communication technology (ICT) is often described as the technology where computers and telecommunication devices are used for information gathering/acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination to the relevant users. The use of ICT in libraries by researchers increases resulting from the increasing demand and sources for information. The information revolution and the extraordinary increase in the spread of knowledge have given birth to a new era of knowledge and information which affects directly all spheres of organizations’ life cycle. Based on this trend, individuals, organizations and governments worldwide have recognized the role of ICT in fostering growth and development. The advances in the sciences and in the application of ICT’s, particularly the Internet, intranet and other Network technologies have continued to impact positively on the methodology of libraries on information service delivery and information service providers as well as the information needs and seeking behaviours of the information seekers and users. This leads to a shift of paradigm of the library services from the traditional (closed) model of librarianship to the contemporary (open) model of librarianship characterized by client-oriented (user-centered) services which are dynamically interwoven with the changing needs of the environment and the society at large. It is generally observed that in contemporary society, the importance of information calls for better use of existing services and improvement of information services to meet explicit and implicit needs of the society. Librarians, therefore, need to take cognizance of the complexities in the contemporary public and private organizations and institutions as direct response to their changing information needs as well as users. Libraries and information centers are needed not only to gather, organize and coordinate access and use of the best and rich available information resources of organizations, but also to package, repackage and market them to ensure their effective access and utilization by the target audience. The use of ICT’s in the libraries has tremendously changed the management of resources or housekeeping operations as well as the way services are delivered. The ICT’s application tool and integrated library system are largely used in housekeeping operations, like acquisition, cataloguing, circulation control, serial control etc. Internet has been used extensively as a resource, as well as a tool to deliver the library and information needs of the users.