FUNCTIONALITY OF NATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARIES FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Libraries in Nigeria contribute to educational development in the country. Butthis contribution is largely unrecognized by stakeholders in the educational industry. To bridgethis gap, the current study analyses the quintessential and dogged contributions of Dr NnamdiAzikiwe towards the establishment of the National Library of Nigeria four years after thenation’s Independence. The objective of this study is to analyse the functionality of nationaland institutional libraries for educational development in Nigeria. The literature on library andeducational development has been extensively reviewed. The method of data collection usedwas the secondary method. Documents and other published materials as books, journals andnewspapers provided the sources of the qualitatively collected and analysed data. The studyrevealed that libraries are among the most important necessities of educational development inNigeria because they are repositories of organized and scientific knowledge. More so, therehave not been adequate financial and material investments in the nation’s library system,resulting in poor service delivery to end users and slowing down educational development inthe country. Therefore, the study recommends that there should be more investments in bothnational and institutional libraries by both the government and individuals who have interestsin library and educational provision.