Preservation of Newspaper Collections in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Library Lagos

This study assessed the state of preservation of newspaper collections at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Library in Lagos, South West Nigeria. Newspapers constitute a primary historical record of public life, and their preservation is essential for journalism education, research, and national memory. A descriptive qualitative design was employed, and data were gathered through interviews with library staff, observation of storage conditions, and analysis of collection condition reports. The study found that a significant proportion of the newspaper collection showed evidence of yellowing, brittleness, and biological attack. The library had no written preservation policy, and microfilming had been conducted for only a small portion of the collection. Digital scanning was not yet underway. The study recommended that the library develop a newspaper preservation policy aligned with international best practices, prioritise digitisation of the oldest and most fragile items, engage with the National Archives for technical assistance, and apply for preservation grants from international library organisations. Keywords: newspaper preservation, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, library collection, digitisation, Lagos.