Board of Trustees

(BOT)

The Board of Trustees of the Library of Alexandria is the governing body that is responsible for defining the library’s global policy and establishes its administrative and financial regulations. President Hosni Mubarak decreed the establishment of the Board of Trustees (BOT) according to Law No.1 of 2001. The Board is composed of a number of eminent figures of high scientific and cultural standing and international experience, including Egyptians and non-Egyptians. Under the decree, the BOT should have no less than fifteen and no more than thirty members five of whom are ex-officio members of the Egyptian Government, namely, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of Culture, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Governor of Alexandria in addition to the President of the University of Alexandria.

A Presidential Decree No. 76 for the year 2001 named the first Board of Trustees, and for the non-ex-officio members of that Board, the duration of their membership is two years. After that period, the Board membership shall be renewed by a third every year.

Other than this first Board, the non-ex-officio members of the Board shall be appointed by a decision of the BOT on nomination of one of the members. Membership shall be for three years, renewable for one additional term.

The BOT is the decision-making authority on the matters of the Library of Alexandria, and is 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 meets once a year and can hold additional or extraordinary meetings at the invitation of its Chair or at the request of no less than half of its members.

The meeting of the Board is considered to have a quorum if a majority of the members are in attendance, and decisions are taken by simple majority of those present. In case of equal votes, the group with the presiding Chair's vote will prevail.

The Board may constitute from its membership committees to which it may assign the execution of specific tasks, or the preparation of particular studies or the carrying out of research.

H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak Chair of the Board of Trustees

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak chairs the BOT of the Library of Alexandria. She attained her BA degree in Political Science at the American University in Cairo. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Sociology of Education also from the American University in Cairo. She participated in many international and regional conferences, meetings, and round tables on development, peace, children’s rights, women’s issues, environment, health, and education. She also received a number of awards, honors and medals in appreciation of her distinguished efforts in fields of women and children rights, ameliorating activities for the disabled, promoting education, health services as an integral part of the development process, and supporting the “Reading for All” campaign. Mrs. Mubarak was given many honorary doctorates, as well as professor degrees from International universities and academies.