Information Services and Research Support for Legislators in Bauchi State House of Assembly Library

This study examined the information services and research support provided by the Bauchi State House of Assembly Library to legislators in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. Legislative libraries are specialist information environments tasked with supporting evidence-based lawmaking by providing timely, relevant, and authoritative information to elected officials and their staff. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were gathered from legislators, legislative aides, and library staff through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study found that the library offered basic information services including current awareness and document supply, but that more sophisticated research support functions such as policy briefs, bill analyses, and comparative legislative reviews were not consistently available. Legislators expressed dissatisfaction with the speed and depth of research support. The study recommended the appointment of research librarians with policy analysis skills, development of a structured legislative research service, and investment in current affairs and legal information database subscriptions. Keywords: legislative library, information services, research support, Bauchi State, House of Assembly.