In Zimbabwe, the first academic library was established in 1953 at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now called the University of Zimbabwe). The academic library of the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was established in order to become the university’s only source of book supply available to staff and students. At this stage of the library's development, it can be assumed that it merely served to provide access to book collections such as laboratory manuals which were placed in departments on a long term loan (Made, 1969).