ABSTRACT
The study was aimed at examining how the Nigerian Library Association affects Professional Development of Information Professionals in University Libraries in the North Central States of Nigeria.Survey method was used in this study.The study sought to find out among others the types of Professional Development Programmes the NLA organises for its members, the type of professional development programmes the information professionals are aware of, relevance of the Professional Development Programmes, the extent of how the members are satisfied with the programmes and the challenges faced in attending the NLA Professional programmes. The 118 Information Professionals of the (6) selected Nigerian Federal University Libraries were used as sample and population for this study. The collected questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistical tools. The findings of the study among others revealed that the Information Professionals attend the NLA Programmes to build a Professional network and become abreast with new skills and trends in the field of information management in the libraries, among other programmes NLA organises, Workshops and Conferences along with meetings that were organised at sectional, state and National levels for the Information Professionals were the Programmes mostly the respondents were aware of.The study amongst other things recommends that the NLA should within the Institutional libraries make and create ways for the provision of regular attendance of NLA Programmes by their Information Professionals, the NLA should try to make their Professional Development known to Information Professionals, and the time and mode they organise these programmes to Information Professionals and funding should be made available for sponsorship of members to enable them attend the associations' conferences and sectional Workshops since it enhances the skills, and also motivates them to do better in their Professional development.