It is only courteous to start a discussion of the development of the Department of Library and Information Science at Ahmadu Bello University by first and foremost paying a glowing tribute to two outstanding scholars. The first is F.A. Sharr, who not only recommended in his report On the library needs of Northern Nigeria that a central library training school should be established at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, but went further to propose the types of programmes to be offered in the library school. His report undoubtedly allowed the Department to begin its life with a firm vision of its mission.

The second is Dr. Edward Anthony Olden, who, as noted by Benge (1982, xviii) was involved with the foundation of the Department.

Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is one of the largest libraries in Africa. It is the main library of the university and serves the research and study needs of staff and students located on the main campus.

The origins of the library date back to 1955 when it was established to serve the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria Branch. A new and bigger building was put up in 1963. However as the university grew and expanded it became too small and inadequate, and in 1976 the library moved to its present location. This occupies an area of about 13,000 square metres. It has a capacity for holding 500,000 volumes of books and a seating capacity for 2,000 readers. As of September 2003 it has a stock of about 475,600 volumes of books and about 6,350 serial titles.