Abstract  This research examined staff motivation in Nigeria academic libraries. Because of the difficult of covering all academic libraries in the country, the library of the federal university of Technology Owerri was chosen to serve as a case study. The survey method of research was used for this study and the instruments for data collection were questionnaire, interviews and documentary sources. The finding of this study revealed among others. (a) That staff motivation leads to industrial harmony, increased productivity and reduction of wastage. (b) That irregular payment of salaries and claims lack of working tools and inadequacy of funds has adverse effect on staff motivation. (c) Suggestion aimed at improving staff motivation in academic libraries were made some of these suggestion include (i) Adequate funding of tertiary institution and their libraries…… (ii) provision of befitting offices for senior librarians, (iii) Computerization of the operations and services of academic libraries.