CENTER FOR HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION AND RESEACH

(AREWA HOUSE)

House Library

The Arewa House library started in a modest form in the year 1970 with the appointment of Professor Smith as the first Director of History of Northern Nigeria Project. Between 1970 and 1984, Professor Smith had traveled far and wide to procure historical works, theses, dissertations and other forms of materials that have bearing on the history of Northern Nigeria.

The main objective of bringing together these collections was to provide facilities for advanced historical studies in the field of Northern Nigeria history, its peoples and cultural heritage, with particular reference to the evolution of the institutions of Nigerian society. An attempt is in progress to computerize the library. It is hoped that when completed the library database could be available and accessible online.

Today Arewa House Library has expanded in scope and collection in view of the new dynamics of the society. The Collections in the library are divided as follows:

1. Thesis and Dissertations.
2. Conference Papers.
3. Books and other reference materials Catalogues
4. Abstract Services
5. New Arrivals
6. Professor Smith’s Collection.
7. Professor Lavers’ Collection.
8. Ambassador Mustapha Zubair Collections
9. Dr. Garba Asiwaju Collections
10. World Bank Public Information Center

Arewa House library is an affiliate of the library complex of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. It shares resources with the main library of the university, i.e. Sir Kashim Ibrahim Library (KIL) and the Northern History Research Scheme (NHRS) Library of the History Department.

Opening Hours:

Mondays—Fridays:    8.00am – 6.00pm.

Saturdays;              8.00am – 4.00pm.

The Library is closed on Sunday’s and all public holidays in Nigeria. Library facilities include Internet connectivity and special carrels for researches. An attempt is in progress to computerize the library. It is hoped that when completed the library database could be available online.
The library also houses linguists who can facilitate translation of texts from Arabic to English; Hausa to English; or vise-versa.

Registration: