National Library of Uganda NLU

History and Founding

The National Library of Uganda (NLU) was established by an Act of Parliament in 2003, succeeding the Public Libraries Board, which had itself been in operation since 1964. With the passage of the National Library Act of 2003, the NLU became the National Bibliographic Control Agency for Uganda, taking on responsibility for legal deposit enforcement, the publication of the National Bibliography of Uganda, and the allocation of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) and International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN). The library is affiliated with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Collections and Holdings

The NLU serves as the legal deposit library for all works published in Uganda, including government publications. Its holdings are organized into several major collections: the Africana Collection, the General Reference and Special Collection, and an extensive Newspaper Collection with holdings dating back to the pre-independence era. Historical newspapers in the collection include titles such as The Uganda Argus, The Uganda Herald, Voice of Uganda, The Weekly Topic, New Vision, Daily Monitor, Bukedde, and The East African. Government documents from various ministries and departments, research reports, and reference books on Africa—particularly East Africa—also form part of the collection.

Notable Materials for Journalism and Media Research

The NLU's Newspaper Collection is a primary resource for researchers studying the history of Ugandan media and journalism. Newspapers from as far back as the 1950s, covering the colonial and independence periods, are held in the collection. The library serves as a repository for periodicals, serial publications, and official government documents that document the evolution of public discourse and press history in Uganda.

Access and Usage

The library is open to the public. Reading room and reference services are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The NLU is closed on Sundays and public holidays. In 2023, the library launched a digital web portal developed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Authority of Uganda (NITA-U), providing remote access to digitized resources including historical newspapers, government documents, and research reports. Patron registration is required, and computers and wireless internet access are available on-site.

Organizational Structure

The NLU is organized into four departments: the Office of the Director (policy and administration), the Technical Services Department (acquisitions and processing), the Inspection, Research, and Extension Services Department (library standards and public outreach), and the Information and Referral Services Department (reference services and preservation).