Abstract:
Democracy has been sought for by many countries; yet only very few have been able to achieve it. a nation which thinks it can be ignorant and still be free in a democratic state, expects what never was and what never will be. Democracy can only thrive where the electorate is patriotic enough, articulate and well informed through public libraries and other civilizing agencies of democracy. This paper highlights the relationship between democracy and public libraries, and mentions proximity to communities, offering free services to all, and being funded by the public as the characteristics of public libraries. it further discusses how these libraries help in advancing the course of democracy; examines the experiences of Nigerian Public Libraries vis-a-vis democracy development and sustenance; advances inadequate funding, low application of ICT, inadequate and obsolete materials as challenges facing Nigerian Public Libraries, Putting forward strategies for assuaging these challenges, this paper recommends information repackaging, resuscitation of governments interests in proper funding, establishment of ICT policy and practice and others as some of the ways to help enable public libraries stem up their rules in keeping their cliental well informed for democratic growth and sustenance.
