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1. BACKGROUND:
In the early pasts, Sudanese special libraries were small collections of books and manuscripts owned by religious leaders and tribal chiefs. They consulted them for information on different social, economic, political, and religious matters. At the beginning of 1990s, Libraries with small collections of books were established in schools and for British senior administrators and officers. Science Libraries (special libraries) were also established to support research in Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories, the Stack Medical Research Laboratories, and Agricultural Research Library and also in some of ministries and other government bodies in the Country respectively.
The Documentation and Information Centre [NCR-DIC] (formerly National Documentation Centre) as part of the National Research Centre (formerly National Research Council) and designated as national documentation center for legal deposit to support research, development planning, decision-making and projects monitoring and evaluation. It is one of the institutions that serve as national depository of knowledge and information. It can also play important role in disseminating information and organization activities that create user awareness and understanding important national concerns.
NCR-DIC started its activities by creating a specialized library with assistance from United Nations to provide information services and Government sponsored research. And this is marked initial step for establishing a National Information System. Since 1978, NCR-DIC has assumed this function and carried out surveys of the Information Infrastructure In Sudan under UNESCO, FORD FOUNDATION, IDRC, UNEP, CTA sponsorship and etc.