AfLIA President, Mr. Alim Garga, pays working visit to Gabon

AUGUST 2, 2022

The President of the African Library and Information Association and Institutions, Mr. Alim Garga, embarked on a three-day working visit to Libreville, Gabon, at his own cost, to meet and interact with Gabonese library and information institutions and professionals from May 23-27, 2022. The visit was occasioned as part of AfLIA’s partnership and membership mobilization strategy to promote the continental association.

AfLIA has continued to spearhead advocacy and actions in the interest of library and information associations, library and information services, librarians and information workers and the communities they serve in Africa. Mr. Garga’s visit was to encourage stakeholders in the LIS sector of Gabon and the other Francophone African countries to become members of AfLIA, in order to fully benefit from AfLIA’s activities and to contribute towards building a vibrant sector on the continent.      

During the visit, Mr. Garga had the opportunity to hold meetings with the Director General of the National Archives, National Library, Gabonese Documentation (DFADB), Head of the Documentation and Archives Department of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Dr. Ngongola, the Director of Library Services, Central Library, National University of Gabon (Université Omar Bongo).

The President also held discussions with the President, General Secretary, Dep. General Secretary and selected members of the Gabonese National Library Association after which he was taken on a tour of a library being set up by the Association.      

The visit presented a unique chance to deliberate with well-meaning stakeholders on pertinent issues affecting the library and information sector in Gabon and how AfLIA can play a role in uplifting it. At the end of this meeting, there was a convergence of views, willingness to join AfLIA and a determination to work in synergy for the progress of the sector in Central Africa. In terms of expectations, the Gabonese Library Association expressed their desire to receive documents in French to facilitate communication. The Gabonese library professionals indicated their interest in working with AfLIA to pursue areas of mutual interest, including knowledge sharing and capacity development, to help boost the sector in Central Africa.