Economic reform and the dearth of books in Nigeria

In 1986 the Nigerian government introduced measures to deal with a range of economic problems. Among the unanticipated effects of this reform was an escalation in the price of books and difficulty in procuring foreign exchange for their purchase from abroad. This article examines the effects of these stringent economic measures on the book industry and the educational system. It also recommends ways of overcoming the book crisis. W. A. Akinfolarin is acting head of technical services at the library of Ondo State University in Nigeria. He received his M.L.S. from the University of Ibadan in 1986.