# Functions of a University Library and the Impact of Information Technology A university library is an essential academic institution that supports teaching, learning, research, and the overall intellectual development of students, teachers, researchers, and other members of the academic community. Traditionally, the library functioned mainly as a place for collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to printed documents. With the rapid development of Information Technology (IT), its functions have expanded considerably. The modern university library has evolved from a storehouse of books into a dynamic information and knowledge centre that provides access to both physical and digital resources. One of the primary functions of a university library is the selection and acquisition of information resources. Traditionally, libraries acquired textbooks, reference books, journals, newspapers, reports, theses, government publications, maps, manuscripts, and other printed materials. Librarians selected resources according to the academic programmes, research requirements, curriculum, and budget of the university. IT has transformed this function by introducing electronic acquisition and subscription systems. Libraries can now subscribe to electronic journals, e-books, online databases, digital archives, and other electronic resources. Automated acquisition systems help librarians identify, order, receive, and manage resources more efficiently. Electronic resource licensing has also become an important part of collection development. Collection development has consequently become broader and more flexible. Earlier, the physical size of the library building placed limitations on the number of resources that could be stored. Digital collections have reduced this physical constraint. University libraries can provide access to thousands or millions of electronic documents through databases and digital repositories. However, librarians must now evaluate not only the academic quality of resources but also licensing conditions, access rights, cost, interoperability, authentication requirements, and long-term preservation. Another major function is the organization and classification of library materials. Traditionally, librarians classified books according to systems such as Dewey Decimal Classification