Effects of Political and Socio-economic Dynamics on Library Development and Utilization in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents qualitative analyses of case study discussions on the importance of libraries and the effect of political and social-economic dynamics on libraries in Nigeria with particular reference to public, national and academic libraries. It traces historical antecedents of selected libraries with a view of buttressing the point of libraries’ relevance from the ancient times to the modern information society.The article adopted an exploratory research design. Secondary data were obtained using a desk review of existing literature on state of Nigerian public, national and academic libraries. Theoretical framework based on library social responsibility and the role of government in the provision of library and information needs of the people is employed and discussed. They include planning process and critical discourse and informational justice (as part of social justice). Challenges facing libraries in Nigeria are identified to include adverse policies, paucity of funds and general government apathy to library development. As a panacea to the identified challenges confronting most Nigerian libraries, the paper recommends that librarians should continue to play their advocacy roles for their libraries, by continual soliciting for increased percentage of funds through budgetary allocation of both the federal and state governments.Also, good reading habit should be inculcated among pupils and students in order to increase the number of library patronage which would in turn encourage support for library development by the stakeholders.