The National Library Service Board is a Statutory Corporation established under the National Library Service Act of 1967.  NLS operates nation-wide public library and information services in Malawi. Its statutory responsibilities are to promote, establish, equip, manage, maintain and develop libraries in Malawi. Its mission is to ensure that people of Malawi have access to educational, training, recreational and information materials for national development.

Its statutory responsibilities, as stipulated in the Act, are to promote, establish, equip, manage, maintain and develop libraries in Malawi

The Service is governed by a Board which is comprised of a Chairman appointed by the Minister responsible for Statutory Corporations; representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Local Government and Rural development; The Malawi Police Service; Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.  There are also some members who are appointed in their personal capacities.  The Board’s Chief Executive and Secretary is the National Librarian.