The GNLSA was initially founded as a book subscription public lending library in in Banjul back in 1946 and was run by the British Council. In April 1962 the British Council shut down its office and gave its library in the Banjul capital city to the government.
In 1971 the name was changed to the Gambia National Library. In 1974 the British government gave £575,000 for the construction of a new building, books, equipment and furniture. When the new complex was opened it was established as the national library in 1976 by the Library Board Act. A branch was set up in Brikama, Western Region, in 1990.
In 2009 an act of parliament established the Gambia Library Services Authority which gave the body more executive powers and independence to carry out its mandate more effectively.
It is the national coordinator for library and information issues and can impose penalties for non-adherence and encompasses various types of informational materials & literature such as monographs, important press clippings, reference, maps, magazines, bibliographic services, newspapers, digital / electronic records and audio-visual recordings.
The GNLSA’s collections are acquired through gifts, direct purchases, original legal depository, reports, surveys and similar government and agency documents for archiving.
Over the years the library has donated to the University of The Gambia medical and other academic books it has received from their overseas partner library called Book Aid International.
