Fiction in Nigerian Public Libraries

This article reports the results of a survey of the provision and use of fiction in Nigerian public libraries. Evidence shows that, despite carefully framed acquisitions policy statements regarding fiction, in actual fact the public libraries allocate only a small percentage of their meagre book funds to fiction. Consequently, the fiction collections of these libraries are very small, and library clients borrow much less fiction than nonfiction. Nevertheless, Nigerian public libraries have a special interest in acquiring and promoting the reading of indigenous fiction.