DEPARTMENTS

LEGAL DEPOSIT DIVISION
LEGAL DEPOSIT LAW IN NIGERIA PUBLICATION ORDINANCE, 1950

Legal Deposit Law in Nigeria had its origin in ‘1950 Publication Ordinance” which gave the University College Ibadan Library and the Secretariat Library in Lagos the right to collect two copies each of every book, published in the country. Ibadan University Library soon undertook the publication of “ Nigeria publications “ in the country’s National Bibliography in 1953. All the regional government also enacted their own depository provision for publishers within their regions, to deposit certain number of copies of every publication to the Regional Library Board.
The Eastern Regional Board Act of 1955 gave the right to Central Library, Enugu. Western Region enacted in similar act in 1957. The Northern Nigeria
“ Publication Law ” enacted in 1964 also vested all deposit rights with the library of Ahmadu Bello University.

NATIONAL LIBRARY ACT OF 1964.

The National Library Act was passed in 1964 but it failed to provide for the fulfillment of either the function of National depository or the publication of a National Bibliography in section 7 (1) of the act. It is clearly stated. “ This act may be cited as the National Library Act 1964 and shall apply to the Federal Territory only “. Looking at this it would appear that Nigeria had a National Library established by Law, which was neither a National depository nor could publish the National Bibliography of Nigeria.
The Ibadan University continued to fulfill this function under the provision of the publication ordinance of 1950.

NATIONAL LIBRARY DECREE NO. 29 OF 1970.

However, in 1970 the National Library Decree was promulgated in which a real attempt was made to rectify the major short comings of the National Library Act of 1964 with emphasis on deposit obligations and bibliographical functions. This Decree No. 29 of 1970 applies throughout the country and has supremacy over any library edicts of State Government in the event of conflicts. Under this decree, the National Library as the National Bibliography Agency of Nigeria was enjoined to receive three (3), ten (10) and twenty five (25) copies of everything published in Nigeria by Private or Commercial publishers, State and Federal Agencies respectively within one month of publication at their own expense.
A copy each of everything received will be sent to university of Ibadan Library for continuity. It is also noteworthy that the UNESCO guideline for the collection of Legal Deposit materials is incorporated in the National Library Decree of 1970 that is: -
(i) Visits to publishers
(ii) Examinations of announcements and local newspapers.
(iii) Liaising with government department and government printing offices.
(iv) Establishment of an effective clerical routine of registration, receipts, checks and follow-ups.

WHO IS TO DEPOSIT?
There are three categories of publishers specified in the Decree: -
Category 1 - Private publishers
Category 2 - Federal Government, Ministries, Parastatals and
Agencies.
Category 3 - State Government, Ministries, Parastatals and
Agencies.

WHAT IS TO BE DEPOSITED?

Everything that is published in Nigeria. The decree in section 4 sub-section (7) defines in “ BOOK “ thus:
(a) “ All literary work such as books, pamphlets, sheets of music, maps’ charts, plans, tables and compilations.
(b) Dramatic works
(c) Collective works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, Year books of similar works, newspapers, magazines and similar periodicals
(d) Any works written in distinct parts by different authors is or are incorporate, and every part of division of such works and
(e) All forms in which documentary or oral records are published’.

This means Legal deposit is not for books and other print materials only. It includes: all audio visual materials such as phone disks, home videos, films, cassettes etc, and even electronic publications.

HOW MANY IS TO BE DEPOSITED?

The number of copies of published materials to be deposited varies with the categories of publishers: private publishers are to deposit three (3) copies each of their publications. Federal Government and its Agencies are to deposit twenty - five (25) copies of their publications. State Government and its agencies are to deposit ten (10) copies of their publications.

WHERE TO DEPOSIT?

Collection Development and Processing Department (CDPD) of National Library of Nigeria, 4, Wesley Street, P. M. B. 12626, Lagos and any of the Eighteen (18) State Branches through out the Federation.

 

PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

If a publisher fails to comply with any provision of sub – section (1) or (2) of the National Library Decree, he shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $50 dollars (N6, 500) and the court before which he is convicted may in addition order him to deliver to the National Librarian value of those copies.

BENEFITS OF LEGAL DEPOSIT
(1) Preservation of the Nation’s Intellectual output for future
     generation. The preparation of the National Bibliography of 
     Nigeria is however done at NBCD office at Ijora.
(2) Bibliographic Control of the Nation’s Publications.
(3) Source materials for the National Bibliography of Nigeria.
(4) The Author’s name will be entrenched in the annuals of the
     Nations publications history.
(5) The publisher’s name will be listed in the publishers’ directory
     section of the National Bibliography of Nigeria, which many
     Authors and organizations including libraries consult.
(6) The Legal deposit copy is the only authentic copy accepted by
     the law court in cases of litigation.
(7) The legal deposit award is an annual event designed to
     encourage publishers of books, serials and producers of
     audiovisual materials to deposit their works with the National
     Library of Nigeria promptly in accordance with the Legal
     deposit  Decree No. 29 of 1970. The National Library under
     the auspices of the Nigeria Book Foundation (NBF) instituted
     the Legal Deposit Award in 1994. The award is made during
     the National Book Week.

The criteria for the award includes coming personally to deposit such publications within one month of publications of each of such items and the number of titles deposited per annum. Some publishers who met the requirement for the award have already benefited from it. This exercise is intended to bring publishers and National Library of Nigeria together in their related efforts to boost learning and achieving bibliographic control of both print and non – print media in the country.

GIFT AND EXCHANGE

Gifts and Exchange Division is one of the three divisions in Collection Development and Processing Department of National Library of Nigeria. In the early 1980’s, it was under Acquisition Division as a section. It later became a part of the Bookshop and through National Library structural changes, on 2nd February, 1987, it was separated from Bookshop. Gifts and Exchanges Section was eventually upgraded to a division in January 2001 due to expansion in its scope of operation.

The division has two sections namely: -
(a) Gift
(b) Exchange

Under these sections, there are four units, namely: -
(i) General and International Organization gift
(ii) Receipts and distributions
(iii) Documentation and Selection for exchange partners
(iv) Dispatching materials to partners

The basic function of Gifts and exchanges Division is to acquire books and non – book materials into the National Library through gifts and exchanges, as well as donations from well meaning individuals and organizations, process and distribute to other divisions and departments.

PROCEDURE FOR GIFT

1. Sources for Gifts
Gifts can be solicited or unsolicited.

(a) Solicited – making selections from list of titles sent by the
     donors.
(b) Unsolicited – Items that are received into the Library without
     any request.

The National Library does not refuse any material that is considered offensive as gift. These materials can still be given away as gift to other libraries that need them.

2. Materials can be sourced through the following: -

(i) Federal and State Government, Ministries of Information.
(ii) Some Federal Government Agencies/Parastatals
(iii) Institutions/Foundations
(iv) Materials are received from International Organizations such
      as World Bank, United Nation, UNESCO, OPEC, Book Aid
      International (BAI), Brothers & Brothers etc.

DISTRIBUTION OF BOOK TO THE BENEFICIARY

(a) Types of Beneficiaries

1. Tertiary - University Libraries - Polytechnic Libraries - College of Education Libraries
2. Special - Research Institute - Ministry Libraries
3. Schools - Technical - Secondary - Primary
4. Public Libraries, State Library Board/Services
5. National Library Headquarters & State branches
6. Non – Profit Making Organization
- Professional Association Libraries
- Religious Bodies Libraries

(b) No request will be entertained from the following: -
- Individuals
- Societies
- Private Sector Libraries

(c) ALLOCATION
(i) The number of volumes to be allocated per annum is worked out by the division based on the amount of available materials.

(d) MODE OF DISTRIBUTION
Books are distributed to beneficiaries at their own expenses, Libraries can however, request their liaison offices in Lagos to collect the books on their behalf.
Books that are not collected within two (2) months will be re – allocated to other Libraries.

PROCEDURE FOR EXCHANGE

Selection for exchange is from exchange list of titles sent by exchange partners.


WORK DETAILS

(a) Materials for Exchange

(i) Decide on items to be used as exchange materials based on
    the policy.
(ii) Complete the list of titles that are available for exchange
(iii) Prepare letters to be used to accompany list of titles for
     exchange.
(iv) Forward letters and list of titles for exchange to the Director
      (CDPD) for approval, signing and dispatching.
(v) Review and evaluate exchange partner’s status and report
     some to the head of departments.

(b) Request for Exchange Partners

(i) Receiving request list of titles from exchange partners.
(ii) Selection and retrieval of exchange materials from shelf in the
     stack room.
(iii)  Packaging the request
(iv) Dispatching of the exchange materials through the Director
      (CDPD) with covering letters.

(c) Selection of Titles

(i) Decide on item to be requested from exchange partners
(ii) Selection of materials from exchange partners list of titles.
(iii) Type the list of titles and covering letter
(iv) Forward the list of titles and covering letter to the Director’s
      office (CDPD) for signing and dispatching (that is mailing).

(d) Collection of Titles

(i) Open parcels and packages from exchange partners and
    International organizations.
(ii) Examine and sorting of the exchange materials received and
     prepares letters of acknowledgement.
(iii) Forward acknowledgement letters to the Director (CDPD) for
      signing and dispatching.
(iv) Process and stamping materials with gift and exchange      
      rubber stamp.
(v) Document all records of exchange materials
(vi) Forward processed materials to collection division for further
      processing.

 

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