Its core functions include:

i.To administer and manage International Standards Numbers (ISBN,  ISSN,  ISMN)  for monographs, serials and musical works-as the national Agency

ii.To ensure regular production of Nigerian file of ISSN,  Global  Register of publishers and ISBN user’s manual;

iii.To introduce international and national standards methods and norms for book processing through the  organization of seminars and workshops;

iv.To implement the National Library of Nigeria cataloguing-in publication (CIP) programme, by providing preliminary cataloguing data to be printed in Nigerian publications;

v.The development and maintenance of ISSN, ISBN, and ISMN database for local and international Bibliographic access and exchange.