National Library Act
Act · Education
An Act establishes the National Library of Nigeria to collect, preserve, and provide access to published works. It targets researchers, students, publishers, and the public for information services. This promotes a reading culture and supports national development.
National Library Act
What Is This Policy?
The legislation that established the National Library of Nigeria, mandating it to collect, preserve, and provide access to published works and to serve as the national repository for books, periodicals, and other intellectual material produced in or about Nigeria.
Who Does It Target?
Researchers, scholars, and students Publishers and authors in Nigeria State and public library services The general public seeking information resources
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Preserve Nigeria's literary and intellectual heritage, promote a reading culture, and provide accessible information services to support education, research, and national development.
Key Features
Legal Deposit: Publishers must deposit copies of every publication with the National Library National Bibliography: Compilation and publication of a comprehensive record of Nigerian publications ISBN Assignment: Issuance of International Standard Book Numbers to Nigerian publishers Branch Libraries: Network of branch libraries across the states Library Development: Technical support for the development of state and public library services
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Fully operational Coverage: Headquarters in Abuja with branch libraries across the states Lead Agency: National Library of Nigeria Funding: Federal government allocations
How to Access
The National Library is open to the public for research and reading. Visit the National Library headquarters in Abuja or the nearest branch library Publishers register for ISBN and deposit published works Researchers access collections through the library's reference services
Official Resources
Website: nln.gov.ng Contact: National Library of Nigeria, Abuja
Legal Framework
Enacted under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. Operates alongside the National Library Act Cap N57 LFN 2004, the Copyright Act 2022, the National Archives Act, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and UNESCO guidelines on national library development and legal deposit requirements.