Presidential Decree

No. 76 for the year 2001

Regarding the organization of the supervision of the Library of Alexandria and the manner of its management and the conduct of its financial and administrative affairs,

The President, after reviewing the Constitution and Law No. 1 of 2001 concerning the Library of Alexandria, and 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
The Library of Alexandria shall be managed by:
(a) A Council of Patrons;
(b) A Board of Trustees;
(c) The Director-General.

Article 3

The Council of Patrons

The Council of Patrons is composed of a number of prominent persons from different parts of the world, numbering not less than eight and no more than twenty-four, to be chosen by invitation of the President of the Republic, and one of these persons shall be the Director-General of the 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

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees shall be composed of a number of eminent persons of scientific and intellectual standing or international experience, among 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, the Minister of Culture, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Governor of Alexandria and the President of the University of Alexandria. The Chair of the Council of Patrons shall be the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the said Chair shall choose a member of the Board to act for the Chair in case of the Chair's absence. The first Board of Trustees shall be named by a decree issued by the President of the Republic, and for the non-ex-officio members of that Board, the duration of their membership shall be 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 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-making power on the matters of the Library of Alexandria, and will 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 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 membership committees to which it may assign the execution of specific tasks, or the preparation of particular studies or the execution of research. The Library of Alexandria shall bear the cost of travel and honoraria associated with the attendance of the Board meetings or the committees established by it.

Article 5

The 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 compensation. 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 of Alexandria, 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 the staff, promote them and terminate their services, in accordance with the legal statutes they will serve under. The Director shall be the legal representative of the Library of Alexandria before the judiciary and in its dealings with others.

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 Bibliotheca Alexandrina's activities and that would enable it to execute its mission without being bound by other administrative statutes specified in other laws, and these regulations and statutes shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for their approval. Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Statutes for Staff shall be the legal statutes that shall govern the relationship between the Library of Alexandria and its staff.

Article 7

Budget and Auditors

The Library of Alexandria 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 receive their reports.

 Article 8

This Decree shall be published in the Official Journal and shall be operative from the date of its publication.