BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY

The history of the Abuja National Mosque Library can also be traced to that of the Mosque itself,which begins in the 1980s, when the Federal Government of Nigeria during the regime of His Excellency, President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari decided to move from Lagos to the new Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In 1981, some prominent Muslims from all over the country suggested that the Muslim community should solicit for and collect contributions from both domestic and foreign sources to erect a mosque edifice as a place of worship which would be the national mosque that will serve as a national institution and a symbol of unity for the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. The idea was widely accepted and supported by the Nigerian Muslims. To pursue this noble goal and objective, a council known as Abuja National Mosque Council was inaugurated under the distinguished chairmanship of late Sultan Abubakar III, GCON, the 17th Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to initiate action for the construction of the mosque.

Together with the Mosque, the Library also began its operations in 2012, at the Administrative block of the Mosque;the library occupied a place at the first floor of the administrative block with a seating capacity of over 120 users. Currently, the Library’s holdings are about 2,000 volumes including serials, collections, electronic journals, subscriptions, databases and official government publications in all areas of knowledge, particularly in Islamic publications, to serve the entire nation. The Library operates hybrid system which combines printed and electronic publications. AMNL also has e-Library from which resources can be retrieved globally, likewise a local repository of publication are also collected from different varsities throughout the nation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBRARY:
The main objective of the library is to provide information (Knowledge) in both conventional and electronic format in other to promote learning in Islam and general knowledge.
As part of its mandate to propagate Islamic teachings through learning and research, the Abuja National Mosque Library is expected to take part as a resource center in the following areas:

a. Books and Manuscripts
b. Subscriptions
c. Media Resources
d. Establishing an intellectual tradition
e. Lecture series
f. Translation and publications
g. Sanitation and discipline

THE LIBRARY TIMINGS:

Opening Hours:

9:00 am – 5:00 pm -Mondays – Fridays

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Additional Services provided by ANMLibrary include the following:
a. Reference Services: to assist the users secure, access and use information resources.
b. Online Services: to enable users retrieve and or access information especially on real time basis, through the application of ICTs such as internet.
c. Reserve Book Services: to keep limited relevant copies of information resources for users, whenever needed.
d. Current Awareness Services: to enlighten the general public and Library users on the latest developments and happening in the society.
e. Photocopying and Binding Services: without necessarily breaking the copy right law and intellectually property rights, to secure the publications and elongate their life span.

SECTIONS IN THE LIBRARY
The Library consists of the following sections:
• Reference and Information services: This is the unit where users lodge their array of questions, information needs, and inquiries.
• Serials Section: The Library acquired publications that are issued in successive parts. Examples are periodicals, magazines, newspapers, annual reports, and series.
• E-Library section: with e-library facilities comprising over 20 Desk-top computers fully connected to the internet.
• Reserve Section: for hard to find books placed on reserve for a user on a first come first served basis.
• VIP Section: this place is reserve for the top officials and very important personals in the society.

LIBRARY RULES AND REGULATION
a. Smoking, drinking and eating are not allowed in the Library.
b. On leaving the Library, readers must show books in their possession to the security personal at the entrance.
c. It is an offence to take out of the Library a book which has not been properly issued to you.
d. Disciplinary action, including expulsion, will be taken against anyone found to have mutilated or stolen Library materials.
e. Valuables, especially money and handsets kept in hand bags at the entrance of the Library are at owners’ risk.
f. The use of mobile phone is NOT allowed in the Library.
g. Users are not allowed to give their library identification card to others for use in the library.
h. Discussions should only hold at the assign places in the Library.
i. Sleeping and reservation of seat are strictly not allowed.
j. Library users should not return books back on the shelves once taken off the shelves; they should be left on the tables.

MEMBERSHIP
The Library is open to all registered members of the public being of any faith or believes. Every user will be issued and identification card which will serve as a pass to the library upon registration, with a annually charges of N5,000.00