PurposeTo assess the computer literacy skills/competencies of professional librarians in Nigerian university libraries.Design/methodology/approachEmploys descriptive design using questionnaires to collect data from 57 professional librarians in four Nigerian university libraries.FindingsReveals the personal characteristics of the respondents, assessment of their levels of computer skills, computer use experience, avenues of computer literacy, software used, library routines computer is used for, benefits derived from computer and problems associated with computer use, recommendations are made in light of the findings.Originality/valueIts findings will assist librarians and library managers to have insight into state of computer literacy among professionals in Nigerian university libraries and assist relevant authorities to plan how librarians, especially in developing countries, can become computer literate.