Small can be beautiful: Automation efforts at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Library

Abstract

This paper describes the automation experience of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Library. It particularly describes how the library used the small computer resources that it had to be able to start somewhere. Although the hardware resource could not take on a fully‐fledged automation plan, the library succeeded in embarking on a computer literacy programme for the staff; indexing books and serials published by the Institute; producing catalogue cards; and instigating an offline circulation system. The future plans of the library to acquire a bigger system are also highlighted.