Regarding the management of, and conducting the financial and administrative affairs of the Library of Alexandria The President of the Republic of Egypt.
After reviewing the Constitution and Law No. 1 of 2001 concerning the Library of Alexandria, and upon the agreement of the Council of Ministers has decreed.
ARTICLE 1
The Library of Alexandria is a public juridical person headquartered in Alexandria and attached to the President.
ARTICLE 2
The Management of the Library of Alexandria shall be managed by:
- A Council of Patrons.
- A Board of Trustees.
- A Director.
ARTICLE 3
Council of Patrons
The Council of Patrons is composed of a number of world leaders from different parts of the world, numbering not less than eight and no more than twenty-four, to be selected by invitation of the President, and one of these shall be the Director-General of UNESCO. The President, or his designate, shall be the Chair of the Council of Patrons, and the Minister of Higher Education shall be the Secretary of the Council. The Council shall have the responsibility of supporting the Library and following up on its activities and shall express its views on the direction of such activities. The Council shall meet once every three years at the invitation of its Chair.
ARTICLE 4
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall be composed of a number of eminent figures of scientific and intellectual standing or international experience, Egyptians and non-Egyptians. They shall number no less than fifteen and no more than thirty; of whom five shall be ex-officio members of the Egyptian Government, namely: the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of Culture, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Governor of Alexandria and the President of the University of Alexandria. The Chairman of the Council of Patrons shall be the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the said Chair shall select a member of the Board to act for the Chair in case the Chair is absent. The first Board of Trustees shall be named by a Decree issued by the President of the Republic. For the non ex-officio members of this Board, the duration of their membership shall be two years. Following that period, one-third of the Board members shall be renewed every year. Other than this first Board, the non ex-officio member sof the Board shall be appointed by a decision of the Board of Trustees on nomination of one of the members. Membership shall be for three years, renewable for one additional term.
The Board of Trustees is the decision-maker on the matters of the Library, and shall be responsible for defining its general policies, for the administration and planning of its activities and for the establishment of its administrative and financial regulations.
The Board shall meet once a year and can hold exceptional (additional) meetings by invitation of its Chair, or at the request of no less than half of its members.
The meeting of the Board shall be deemed legal if a majority of the members are in attendance, and decisions shall be taken by simple majority of those present.
In case of equal votes, the side with the presiding Chair’s vote will prevail.
The Board may constitute, from its members, committees to which it may assign the execution of specific tasks or research, or the preparation of particular studies.
The Library shall cover the cost of travel and honoraria associated with the attendance of the Board meeting or the committees established by it.
ARTICLE 5
Director
The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Director of the Library for a period of five years, renewable, and shall determine the Director’s remuneration. This appointment shall be by a decision of the Board supported by two-thirds of its attending members, and it is essential that the candidate be a person of international standing, wide culture, and managerial and technical competence. The Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Library, and is entrusted with the execution of the policies established by the Board of Trustees. The Director shall prepare the agenda for the Board meetings, and shall attend the meetings, but shall not vote on decisions before the Board.
The Director shall be the Head of the staff, and shall appoint, promote and terminate their services, in accordance with the legal personnel statutes of the Library.
The Director shall be the legal representative of the Library before the judiciary and in its dealings with others.
ARTICLE 6
Administrative and Financial Regulations and Statutes for Staff
The Director shall prepare the Administrative and Financial Regulations and Statutes for staff in a manner that is compatible with the nature of the Library’s activities and that would enable it carry out its mission without being constrained by other administrative statutes specified in other laws. These regulations and statutes shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval. Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the personnel statutes shall be the legal statutes that shall govern the relationship between the Library and its staff.
ARTICLE 7
Budget and Auditors
The Library shall have an independent budget and the surplus shall be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.
Without prejudice to the supervision of the Government Accounting Office, the Board of Trustees shall appoint the external auditors and shall acknowledge their reports.
ARTICLE 8
This Decree shall be published in the national official journal and shall be effective as of date of its publication.
Hosni Mubarak
Issued at the Presidency of the Republic on 25 Dhul
Hijja 1421, 20 March 2001