About SLA/AGC
The Special Libraries Association "SLA" is a specialized global organization founded in 1909 with Head Office in the United States. It adopts innovations of specialists and professionals in the field of information and libraries. SLA serves more than 12,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, incentives, and networking initiatives.
SLA members are professionals working in economic firms, private companies, Governmental Departments, Scientific Centers and Institutes, museums, Medical Service Centers and consulting agencies. The mission of SLA is developing the concept of professional leadership for the Specialists in libraries and information centers including shaping information policies for serving our communities.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter was established in the year 1992 through the initiative of Aramco Library Staff and later a number of professionals in the Arabian Gulf area joined this branch. The Bahraini Ministry of Information adopted this branch and therefore the Head Office was established in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter "AGC" used to hold his annual conference in one of the Arabian Gulf Countries where professional's members of the AGC Board of Directors supervise the programs. The Arabian Gulf Chapter Publishes a Quarterly Newsletter for distribution to the members and organizes two workshops annually in addition to the Exhibition accompanying its annual Conference in which they usually demonstrate the latest state of art technology in the field of Libraries and Information Centers.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter "AGC" is managed and supervised by an annually elected Board of Directors in addition to the President. The Board of Directors meets three times per year to discuss and approve the working plan, the budget and the Conference. A number of Information and Libraries Specialists have assumed the position of AGC President since its establishment.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter "AGC" organizes its annual conference in one of the Gulf "GCC" countries every year periodically. Thus all specialists in the field of Information and Libraries have the chance to meet their colleagues in the Gulf countries to exchange ideas and information related to their scientific specialties .In addition ,an annual exhibition is also conducted besides the Conference to exhibit the latest products and services in the field of information. A number of leading international companies usually participate in this exhibition.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter "AGC" conducts training courses under the sponsorship of the Academic and Scientific Corporations. These training courses address a variety of recent topics in the field of Information and Libraries and concentrate on strengthening and improving the staff members.
The Arabian Gulf Chapter "AGC" publishes a periodical Newsletter that covers topics of particular importance in the region such as future activities ,conferences, symposiums, seminars and workshops in addition to reports about the Chapter activities and topics on the profession issues.
The Special Libraries Association (Arabian Gulf Chapter) membership is given to individuals and corporations within the territories of the Gulf Cooperative Council 'GCC" Countries ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman Sultanate) in addition to members from Arab and Foreign countries. The members get free copies of the Newsletter in addition to special discounts for conferences, exhibitions, training courses and Society publications.
