The Public Library in Contemporary Nigeria: challenges and the way forward

Abstract

This paper examines the state of public libraries in Nigeria. It states that the tempo of public library development in the country in the years immediately after independence, and after the Nigerian civil war could not be sustained due to inadequate financial support by the establishing authorities. The paper identifies inadequate funding, demoralized and inadequate workforce, inadequate accommodation, etc. as the challenges currently confronting these libraries. It proposes a remediation of these conditions as a way forward.