This study examined the roles of special libraries in the growth and development of their parent bodies. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study was made up of all the staff of the main library of Petroleum Training Institute (P.T.I.) in Effurun Delta State. The instruments that were used for the data collection were questionnaire and interview. For the analysis of the data for this study, the researcher used tables and simple percentages. The result revealed that the main library in PTI has some roles to play in the growth and development of her parent body, including provision of abstracting and indexing services, selective dissemination of information (SDI), Current awareness services (CAS) as well as helps in the general promotion of the parent body. The study revealed that technical reports, magazines and newspapers, computers, photocopying machines, abstracts, etc. are some of the information materials that are stocked by the library staff for their library users. The study also revealed that inadequate fund, insufficient well-trained professional librarians arid erratic power supply are some of the challenges faced by the special library. Based on the findings made in the study, the researcher recommended amongst others that the parent body of the special library should donate both enough financial and material resources to the special library.
Keywords: Special Libraries; Growth; higher institution; Libraries
