Functions of the Nigerian National Library

The Nigerian National Library came into operation in the mid-1960s with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by Act No. 29 of 1970.

Before the passage of the National Library act, a series of educational conferences conducted in Ibadan served as 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 for the necessity to develop a local repository of knowledge.

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The committee was charged with finding a way to aid the government in bringing to prominence the intellectual foundations of its policies, creating a national bibliographic center, and providing 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.

Functions of the Nigerian National Library

Collection And Preservation And Cultivation Of Treasures Of Knowledge

The number one function of the National Library was for the collection of treasures of knowledge, preservation of treasures of knowledge, and cultivation of treasures of knowledge.

Such collection and preservation and cultivation of knowledge were to include that of the heritage and the culture of the state of Nigeria, and the people of Nigeria.

It is also the responsibility of the National Library to expand and enhance its function of collecting, preserving, and cultivating the treasures of knowledge and Nigeria’s heritage and culture in general.

Serves As Home For The Collections, Archives And Manuscript And Others

Another function of the National Library is that it is charged with the responsibility of serving as a home, where there are collections, where there are archives, where there are manuscripts, where there are documents, and where there are maps.

The National Library also serves as a home for music and other treasures, such as audio, and still yet, a home for graphic creations, a home for audio-visual creation, and a home for electronic documents.

Most items that have unique national significance, historic significance, and cultural significance are also collected and preserved in the National Library. The above duties are some of the major functions of the National Library.

Displays Changing And Permanent Exhibitions Of The Library’s Collections the Public

The National Library is, by the virtue of its power, in charge of making sure that it displays changing exhibitions and permanent exhibitions of the Library’s collections to members of the public.

In displaying these collections of the library, whether it is for permanent exhibitions or changing exhibitions, the National Library does not only depend on its collections for exhibitions, the library’s collections can be borrowed.

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Allows Public And Nigerian Residents Access To The Library’s Collections

What is the purpose of collecting, preserving, and cultivating treasures of knowledge, if members of the public, citizens, and Nigerian residents would not gain access to the Library’s collections? Such an attitude will never serve any purpose.

Therefore, one of the major functions of the National Library was to allow members of the public proper access, including outsiders reasonable access to the collections of the Library.

This is done through a wide range of channels. The most prevalent channel is that of the advanced technological medium.

So allowing members of the general public, both within and outside the country access to the Library’s collections, remained one of the functions of the National Library.

Serves As Nigeria’s Central Research Library

Another function of the National Library is in the area of serving as Nigeria’s central research library. So members of the public are allowed access to the Library’s collections, where they go in to research any area of interest or any area of expertise.

This is done in the area of, or according to the objectives of the researchers. More so, yet another function of the National Library in this regard, is that it also serves as Nigeria’s tertiary institutions’ Library, that is, the college research Library and Universities research Library, particularly in humanities disciplines, also in religious studies, especially Christianity and Islamic studies. Therefore one aspect of the National Library is to serve as a central research library.

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Promotes Cultural And Literary/Educational Activities

The National Library is saddled with the responsibility of providing cultural, literary, as well as, educational activities.

Since the National Library is a home for the collection of treasures of knowledge and heritage and culture, it is expected of the National Library to provide this knowledge, culture, and literary activities, which must be geared toward members of the public, including other audiences, as well as students.

National Library Grants Professional Guidance To Expertise

This is another function of the National Library. This is very important, such that people would be benefited in their field of expertise, as the National Library decided to guide them.

That is why, as part of the function of the National Library, it is expected to grant such professional guidance in these fields of expertise, which must be in line with the aims and objectives, as fitted. This aspect of the National Library’s function includes library management at tertiary institutions in the country and Nigeria’s public libraries across Nigeria.

Maintains Professional Ties With Other Libraries

The National library function also has to do with the maintenance of professional ties with other libraries, such as the national libraries and public libraries, as well as, archives, including cultural and educational organizations within and outside the country.

Issuing of ISBN and ISSN

The responsibilities of the institution also include issuing the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) and ISSN (International Standard Serials Number) to publishing organizations, a process which was formerly cumbersome in the absence of appropriate technology at the regional offices but is getting easier with more awareness and infusion of mobile technology

Some challenges of the National Library

• The National Library of Nigeria has challenges that inhibit it from fulfilling its stated objectives.
• Dilapidated facilities and resources are a result of inadequate funding.
• The library headquarters operates from rented apartments as the complex which is meant to house it remains incomplete since it was started in 2006.
• The library has 33 branches and is making efforts to effectively expand to the 36 state capitals of the federation as designated by the library decree of 1970.
• Poor reading culture in Nigeria is also a challenge as this spawns a nonchalant attitude to the growth of the library while hindering the use of its facilities and services.

Final Notes on Functions of the Nigerian National Library

The Nigeria National Library was established to ensure that there is collection and preservation, and cultivation, as well as, the endowment of the treasures of knowledge, and heritage, including Nigerian culture.

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