THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS IN THE PROMOTING NIGERIAN CULTURE

Abstract

The paper examines the roles of libraries and librarians in the promotion of Nigerian culture. It argues that the roles played by libraries and their staff in the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s culture are not well understood and appreciated by Nigerians, hence the motivation and justification for the article. The paper adopted a qualitative approach to research and analyzed data gathered from secondary sources thematically. Drawing lessons from all kinds of libraries, the paper revealed that libraries and other stakeholders in the society have been instrumental in preserving and providing the widest possible access to knowledge on culture. Through this role, libraries and stakeholders have helped to foster an environment where diverse cultural expressions are encouraged, valued, shared, and protected in Nigerian society. It concludes by recommending that the Nigerian government should address the challenges facing libraries in this regard with a view to enhancing their roles in promoting Nigerian culture.