DUP was established in the early 1969 as a service provision unit within the library of the University of Dar es Salaam. Subsequently, it has been part of all development and transformations which the University of Dar es Salaam has gone through since its inception. To accomplish the main University goals of teaching, research and consultancy, DUP has been transformed from time to time to fit the nature and needs of each generation.

In 2016, University administration decided to restructure and improve the role of DUP in line with the vision 2061 of the University. DUP has now been charged with the mandate to become an integral partner of the institutional transformation programme and development in general.