DEPARTMENT: Institute Library

Overview

The Institute Library offers a wide range of research, analysis, and information services to
legislators, legislative staff, and other researchers in general. The NILDS’ library is a special
library with areas of specialization in legislation and governance. While these areas are of special
concern, the library strives to maintain basic reference collections on many subject areas that
include: Economics, Law, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Issues, and History.
In addition to the holdings on the areas above, the library also contains several publications of
the Institute which include books, policy analysis reports, manuals, and guides for the legislature
on areas of legislative oversight and legislative drafting, legislative practice and procedure,
gender and leadership training manual, induction manual for new legislators, and a code of ethics
for the National Assembly. Others include important research and policy analysis reports, annual
reviews of the Federal Government’s Revenue and Expenditure Plans, and budget analysis.
The library has four Units: Technical Services, Readers Services, E-Library Unit, and Archives.

Vision

To be the premier resource hub and knowledge center, empowering legislators, researchers,
students, legislative staff, and the public with comprehensive information, research support, and
innovative solutions, to enable effective governance, informed decision-making, and public
engagement.

Mission

To meet the information needs of our clients by providing quality and value in all our services
through multiple information resources and communication networks, constantly utilizing
infrastructure and needed resources.

Functions of the Library

Research Support

NILDS library provide comprehensive research support to legislators, legislative staff, researchers, students, and committees. The library offers access to a wide range of resources, including books, journals, reports, ebooks, and online databases.

Information Management

The library is responsible for managing and organizing vast amounts of legislative information. It acquires, process, catalogue, classify, and display legislative documents, such as bills, statutes, reports, Laws of the Federation, and other documents on general subjects. The library also develops effective systems for indexing and archiving these materials to ensure easy retrieval and preservation of legislative records.

Reference Services

The library offers reference services to legislators and their staff, researchers, and students. NILDS library provides guidance on legislative procedures, rules, and regulations. Whilst providing assistance in navigating the library's resources and technology. The library also offers Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) and Current Awareness Services (CAS) to patrons on areas of research interest.

Legislative Support

The library plays a crucial role in supporting the operations and efficiency of the Institute. It provides access to drafted legislative documents, policy research, precedent analysis, and comparative studies.

Units in the Library

Technical Services

The technical services section catalogues and classifies acquired documents to make them easily accessible to library users by assigning class marks based on their respective subject areas.

Readers Services

The reader services section of a library, also known as the circulation or public services department, is responsible for providing direct assistance and support to library users. They provide circulation services, reference and information services, User assistance and guidance, and readers engagement.

E-Library Unit

The ICT and e-library section manages the library's digital resources, including e-books, e-journals, Institutional Repository (IR), OPAC, databases, and other electronic materials. This involves acquiring and licensing digital content, ensuring proper access and authentication mechanisms, and organizing digital collections for easy accessibility and retrieval by library users.

Archives

The archival section preserves and provides access to unique and irreplaceable materials, contributing to the documentation and interpretation of the National Assembly and NILDS history and heritage. Preserving the integrity and longevity of archival materials is a core function of the archival section.
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Library

Opening hours:

Mondays-Fridays: 8 am – 6 pm

Saturdays: 10 am – 4 pm

digital_library

Institutional Repository

This digital repository provides open access to the Institute research output in digital form, including articles, archival materials, working papers, technical reports, conference papers, books, data sets, the Institute‘s Publications, Postgraduate theses, audios, images, videos, etc. NILDS space is a space for sharing of knowledge and ideas among colleagues. The Institute’s staff can deposit their accepted publications online by creating an account on NILDS Institutional Repository or by sending e-copy to nildsdspace@nils.gov.ng

DSpace

OPAC

A user-friendly digital platform that provides access to the resources available in the library. 

A user can perform the following activities on OPAC: Have a personal account; Search for a book; Renew loan; Check the availability of any material; Get detailed information (author, subject, publication details) about a book; Reserve a book; Have mobile access

 

opac

Dr. Maimuna Izah

Dr. Maimuna Izah, Holds a BA from Kendall College, Evanston Illinois, U.S.A., a Masters and Ph.D. in Library and
Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She has experience of about 30 years
in lecturing, administration, and managing information services in Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Gombe State University, Gombe and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, National
Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies. She is a member of the Nigerian Library
Association (NLA) and Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN). She is currently the
Acting Director, Institute Library, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Her research interest include: Digital librarianship and management of libraries and information
centres.