One of the terms of agreement between the Federal Government and UNESCO was that the government should provide a suitable accommodation for a centralized School Library Service for the Federal Territory of Lagos.

In June 1963, the construction of the building was completed and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education in June, 1964.

The School Library Service which is on Herbert Macaulay Street is situated in a predominantly educational area in close proximity to many primary and secondary schools, the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and Federal Training Centre. This later changed its name to Herbert Macaulay Library.

With the creation of the twelve states in Nigeria on 29th May, 1967, the School Library Service came under the control of the Lagos State Government, Ministry of Education. By 1st April, 1968, the transfer was complete.

The historical background cannot be complete without mentioning the transformation of the School Library Service to the State Library Board in 1980 under the Lagos State Law No. 24 of 1980 of the Lagos Official Gazette.

The inauguration of the Board took place on 10th March, 1981 and this gave recognition and meaning to Library Service in the State.

Two projects which were at various stages of completion as at 1979 when the Civilian Administration came in were:

Ikeja Secretariat Library

Badagry Divisional Library.

These two projects were later completed. Ikeja Secretariat Library was opened for public use in 1980 and by March 1982, it became the Board’s Headquarters for purposes of effective administration and to be within easy reach of the State Government.

Similarly, Badagry Divisional Library was officially opened for public use in December, 1981.

Consequently, acting on Governor Jakande’s suggestion, the need for establishing libraries in memory of Nigerians who distinguished themselves and made significant contributions to the development of the Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

The Library Board therefore re-named its library at Yaba which was formerly known as School Library Service as HERBERT MACAULAY LIBRARY and a new library at Agege was named HENRY CARR PUBLIC LIBRARY. Under the same civilian regime of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, some new library projects were embarked upon.