Abstract
This study examined the management and utilisation of legal deposit resources in the National
Library of Nigeria with a view to identifying challenges and proposing strategies for enhanced
user support. Guided by three research questions, the study adopted a descriptive survey design.
A purposive sample of 55 respondents, comprising both staff and users of the National Library,
participated in the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed
using frequency counts and percentages. Findings revealed that although legal deposit resources
are regularly deposited, their management and utilisation remain weak. Only 38.2% of staff
reported consistent cataloguing of resources, while just 27.3% of users were aware of their
existence, and 18.2% had accessed them. Major challenges identified included inadequate digital
infrastructure (80%), low user awareness (74.5%), poor cataloguing practices (67.3%), weak
compliance by publishers (61.8%), and insufficient staff training (52.7%). To address these
issues, respondents recommended digitisation of resources (85.5%), user awareness campaigns
(78.2%), creation of online searchable databases (70.9%), staff training (61.8%), and stronger
enforcement of legal deposit laws (54.5%). The study concludes that while the legal deposit
system in Nigeria has strong potential as a national knowledge resource, it is underutilised due to
structural and institutional barriers. It recommends urgent modernisation through digitisation, awareness creation, staff capacity building, and enforcement of compliance by publishers. Implementing these strategies will reposition the National Library of Nigeria as an effective
custodian of the nation’s intellectual heritage and a reliable support system for researchers and
other users.
Keywords: Legal Deposit, Resource Management, National Library of Nigeria, Digitization,
User Support.
Publication Date: 2025-11-08