By: Haddy Touray
The Gambia National Library Service Authority (GNLSA) on Wednesday received a delegation of lecturers and students from the University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal.
The study visit aimed at strengthening academic cooperation and professional training in library and information science.
The delegation comprised lecturers, librarians, archivists, and documentalists as part of an academic programme designed to expose students to the operations of a national library and enhance their practical competencies in information management.
Welcoming the delegation, GNLSA Director General, Bakary Sanyang, underscored the importance of libraries in education, research, and national development. He expressed appreciation to UCAD for selecting the GNLSA as a learning institution and reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to regional collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The Head of the UCAD delegation, Professor Dieyi Diouf, expressed gratitude for the reception and called for stronger institutional cooperation between the two organizations. She encouraged students to maximize the opportunity for learning and professional networking.
The programme featured presentations from GNLSA staff covering key service areas, including circulation, reference services, the Gambiana national repository, and the periodicals section. The presentations highlighted library operations such as user services, information retrieval, preservation of national publications, and access to serial materials supporting research and education.
The delegation also undertook a guided tour of the library, during which students observed operational procedures, interacted with staff, and examined collections across different service sections. The visit was designed to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical professional experience.
A major highlight of the programme was the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GNLSA and UCAD, aimed at promoting academic cooperation, research collaboration, staff and student exchanges, and capacity building in library and information science.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Professor Diouf commended GNLSA for the organization of a well-structured programme, while Sanyang expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen institutional ties and support the modernization of library services in the sub-region.
A student representative thanked GNLSA for the hospitality and learning experience, while a vote of thanks was delivered in French by GNLSA staff member Fatima Jallow.
The visit ended with group photographs to mark the occasion.