The Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) was established in 1949 by the Gold Coast Ordinance CAP 118 and came into effect in January, 1950. The Ordinance was re-enacted as the Ghana Library Board Act, 1970 (Act 327). Act 327 was also amended by Act 562 of 1998 for the Ghana Library Board to become Ghana Library Authority. The mandate of the Ghana Library Authority is to establish, equip, maintain and manage public libraries in Ghana.