The Gambia National Library

History

Library services started in the Gambia in 1944, with Bishop Daly’s subscription library. The library was opened to a few members of the public. Later on, the British Council opened a Library in 1946, at Independence Drive (current location of the National Museum – the National Centre for Arts and Culture). The British Council handed over the Library to the Gambia Government, and the present library structure was opened on 15 December 1976, by former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. When the transfer took place, the library had a collection of 25,000 books and 500 monographs. Sally Njie was appointed Chief Librarian in 1963. The British Government donated £575,000 to The Gambia for maintaining the library in 1974 . The library is maintained and administered by The Gambia National Library Services Authority (GNLSA). During the 1970s, the collections in the library was nearly doubled.

According to the United Nations, as of 2013 an estimated 41 percent of adult Gambians are literate.

Vision

An inspiring beacon of life-long learning aimed at bringing knowledge alive, lighting up the imagination, and creating possibilities for a vibrant and creative nation.

• Digital Transformation - Expanding digital collection, e-learning platforms, and online access to resources.
• Community Engagement - Strengthening outreach programs to promote literacy, education, and indigenous knowledge preservation.
• Capacity Buildings - Training library professionals, supporting research, and developing innovative library services.
• Lifelong Learning - supporting personal, education, and professional growth across all ages.
• Inclusivity and Equity - welcoming and serving diverse population and services that meet their unique needs.

Mission

To provide a reliable, accessible and world-class library and information service geared towards the transformation of The Gambia into an enlightened and knowledge-based society.

Board of Directors

The Board consist of seven (7) members including a Chairman, Permanent Secretary (MoBSE), Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Information), representative of the Gambia Teachers’ Union, two (2) representatives from Gambian Writers (creative and artistic), as well as the Director General (GNLSA) as Secretary.

Functions

The Gambia National Library Service Authority Act 2009 established the Gambia National Library Service Authority as a public service body. It serves the function of public and national library services. The library has facilities for photocopying, school service and has ISBN service for books published in the Gambia, also ISSN for functional newspapers in the country such as The Standard, Foroyaa, Gambia Daily, the Point, voice and recently the observer 24. They also supply papers to the library after every publication and access to UNESCO publications. The library co-ordinates the library and information issues at the national level and can impose penalties for non-adherence. A branch of the library was opened in Brikama in Western Division in 1990. The library was also made the official recorder of legal depository and principal Bibliographic Centre of the nation. Around 2,000 archived materials are stored in the library, which caters mainly to The Gambia and its history. The library offers an adult library, children's library, bulk school lending service, mobile and mailbox service.

Director General

Mr. Bakary Sanyang was appointed as the Director General of the Gambia National Library Service Authority in 2022 after the expired of the three-year contract of the former D.G. Mrs. Matilda Johnson.

Digital Centre

The Gambia National Library on Tuesday 30 April inaugurated its digital library center. The project is sponsored by an NGO call the Friends of the Gambia National Library. The digital center will provide daily after-school activities, coding classes, free WiFi for the community. It is also intended to serve as career guidance and job workshops, senior citizen tech education, and information services for the visually impaired. The Digital Center will significantly benefit the development of the Gambia National Library by modernising access to information, expanding digital literacy, preserving cultural heritage, and facilitating research. It will also enhance the library's ability to serve a broader audience, including remote users, and support national education and development initiatives.

References

References

1. [http://www.uneca.org/Library/Library_associations.htm List of Addresses of the Major Libraries in Africa] ({{webarchive. link. (30 June 2012 ))
2. "Gambia National Library Service (GNLSA)".
3. Times, The Alkamba. (2024-04-30). "The Gambia National Library and Partners Inaugurate Digital Center".
4. "The National Library".
5. "Education Column: The Gambia National Library: History, Development and Relevance - The Point".
6. Wedgeworth, Robert. (1993). "World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services". American Library Association.
7. Mary A. Thornhill, [https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/Factors_in_library_development_in_the_Gambia/9413942 Factors in library development in The Gambia], Master's Thesis, Loughborough University, 1983, p.80, 89, 131.
8. (2020-03-03). "Gambia National Library Receive A Donation of New Books, In anticipation of extending services to Regions – Foroyaa Newspaper".
9. "Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years (both sexes, female, male)". [[UNESCO Institute for Statistics]].
10. "Library of The Gambia". National Libraries of Africa.
11. "Gambia National Library Service". Access Gambia.
12. TheVoice, Mr Gaye. (2024-05-02). "Gambia National Library Inaugurates Digital Library Center -".
13. Times, The Alkamba. (2024-04-30). "The Gambia National Library and Partners Inaugurate Digital Center".