National Library of Nigeria


The National Library of Nigeria came into effect in the mid-1960s, with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by Act No. 29 of 1970. Prior to the passage of the National Library act, a series of educational conferences conducted in Ibadan, had laid the intellectual basis for the creation of a network of libraries funded by the government to provide accessibility of educational materials to Nigerians. A government advisory committee was later created due to the necessity for the development of a local repository of knowledge. The committee was charged with finding a way to aid the government in bringing to prominence the intellectual foundations of its policies, creation of a national bibliographic center and to provide an arena for the promotion of knowledge. The committee was the first major formal body that called for a National Library as part of its recommendations. The government accepted the demands of the advisory committee and undertook the necessary steps to build a National Library.

History and organization

The construction of the Library began in 1962 and the Library was finally opened in November 1964. The headquarters was moved from Lagos to Abuja ca. 1995.
The Library Act enacted by the House of Representatives of Nigeria guaranteed financial assistance to the project, the Act also provided provisions for the training of staff and the creation of a board of directors made up of professionals. In concord with the demands of the Nigerian republic and the assembly, a group of 15 trained librarians were hired to provide a positive role in developing and manning the library. A board was inaugurated in April 1966 by a new military government. The board was made up of government officials instead of professionals as written on the original act. However, the board tried to improve on the original objectives of the library. But the Nigerian civil war hampered funding and formal government actions were not taken until 1970. In 1970, a new legal precedent was set with the creation of the National Library decree, the decree was partly enacted on the advice of the board which wanted to expand the library to other state capitals in order to create a network of repositories.

Mission

The Library is aided financially by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Originally, the Ford Foundation was involved with the project. The foundation brought in professionals, donated books and funded the library's expansion. The Library over the years has built on its original mission. Today, it is a vital organ that acts as the intellectual memory of the nation. The library provides the intellectual ammunition to aid government officers in policy implementation. However, the general direction of policy instability due to the military incursion to power sometimes created an imbalance between the intellectual memory of prior policies and the intellectual foundation of a new government. The library also stays afloat intellectually by receiving copies of books published in the country by both the government and private authorities through the legal deposit provision in the Library Act. This make the library one of the largest depositories of knowledge in the country. It also collects books on contemporary or new ideas from international organizations.
The responsibilities of the institution also include the issuance of the ISBN and ISSN to publishing organizations, a process which was formerly cumbersome in the absence of appropriate enabling technology at the regional offices but is now getting easier with more awareness and infusion of mobile technology.
Furthermore, as part of its mandate, the Library runs an annual Readership Promotion Campaign all over the country to create awareness about the importance of literacy and to get the citizenry reading.

Challenges

The National Library of Nigeria has challenges that inhibit it from fulfilling the stated mission objectives.
  1. National Library of Nigeria, Emir's Palace Road, Kano City, Kano State.
  2. National Library of Nigeria, Oda Road, Akure, Ondo State.
  3. National Library of Nigeria, Festival Road, P.M.B. 1, Area 2 Garki, Abuja.
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  5. National Library of Nigeria, NTA road, beside ESBS junction, Enugu.
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  1. National Library of Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon Way, P. M. B. 2150 Jos, Plateau State Tel: +2348029569009
  2. National Library of Nigeria, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State.
  3. National Library of Nigeria, Mohammed Road by Old Airport Road, P.M.B. 171, Minna, Niger State.
  4. National Library of Nigeria, 12, Sultan Bello Road, P.M.B. 2251, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
  5. National Library of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa Way by Dutsinma Road, P.M.B. 2145, Katsina, Katsina State.
  6. National Library of Nigeria, Ohokobe Town Hall, Umuahia, Abia State Tel: +2348057891750
  7. National Library of Nigeria, Modibo Adamu Way, Near Aliyu Mustapha Primary School, P.M.B 2124, Yola, Adamawa State Tel: +234803686907
  8. Tel: +2348072051286
  9. National Library of Nigeria, 31, J.S. Tarka Road, Beside Fire Services, Makurdi, Benue State. Tel: 2348053471015
  10. National Library of Nigeria, Kano Road Opposite Police Headquarters, P.M.B. 1469, Maiduguri, Borno State Tel: +2348138618898
  11. National Library of Nigeria, 2, Otop Abasi Street, P.M.B. 1197, Calabar, Cross Rivers State. Tel: +234802649544
  12. National Library of Nigeria, Ministry of Education Premises, Iyaro, PMB 1551, Benin City Edo State. Tel: +2348053616071
  13. National Library of Nigeria, Duku Road, Opposite Prison Yard, Gombe, Gombe State.Tel: 2348036110669
  14. National Library of Nigeria, Plot 5009,New Owerri, PMB 1556, Owerri, Imo State. Tel: +2348037190940
  15. National Library of Nigeria, Adamu Abubakar Maje Road, Rafin Sanyi, Dutse, Jigawa State.Tel: +2348020552251, +2347062002010
  16. National Library of Nigeria, Herald Newspaper Office Premises, Offa Road, P.M.B. 1447. Ilorin, Kwara State.Tel: +2348023385067, +2348039091614
  17. National Library of Nigeria, P.M.B 147, Shendam Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Tel: +2348075122603, +2348187471882
  18. National Library of Nigeria, 83, Ijemo Agbadu Road, P.M.B. 2007, Sapon-Abeokuta, Ogun State. Tel: +2348023422296
  19. . Tel: +2347061164108, +2348052975984
  20. National Library of Nigeria, G.T.T.S. Best Centre, P.M.B. 1142, Jalingo, Taraba State Tel: +2348072100903
  21. National Library of Nigeria, Reference and User Services, Mokwa Street, off Mashood Abiola Way, Area 2, Garki, Abuja Tel: +2348028949129

    The Chief Executive Officer of National Library

Prof. Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina was appointed as the Chief executive officer of National Library of Nigeria on 1 August 2016, by the President and Commander-in-Chief of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.