The BA Board of Trustees Review the Library's Future Plans
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Alexandria—
The BOT Annual meeting was held on Sunday, 29 April 2007, chaired by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, to discuss the BA future plans and activities and to review its achievements and successes.
The BOT comprises of 24 individual members, in addition to five ex officio members, namely: Ahmed Abul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hanay Helal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Farouk Hosny, Minster of Culture, General Adel Labib, Alexandria Governor, and Dr. Hassan Nadeir, President of Alexandria University.
Mrs. Mubarak has been offering her full support to the BA as a bastion of great minds from all over the world, a melting pot for cultural heritage, and an excellent educational edifice for the digital age. The Library developed several programs and activities in sciences, humanities, and arts that shed light on issues of international concern, including youth employment, teaching science and mathematics in the 21st century, ethics of science and technology, and freedom of expression.
During a short time span, the BA established seven specialized centers, opened museums, added thousands of books whether through its acquisition plan, direct purchase, or donations, and organized several educational, scientific, and cultural events and activities. International dignitaries, researchers, and general public visit the BA. The BA has 35 friends associations in 30 countries all over the world, supporting the library in carrying out its mission and goals.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, stated that the BA has developed rapidly during a short period of time, the number of its employees doubled, new research centers were established, and its activities increased. Since its inauguration on 16 October 2002, the BA left a great impact on the cultural scene in Egypt and the region, and succeeded in attracting the international attention. Dr. Serageldin added that the BA follows an objective strategy, where the activities of each unit support and complement the activities of the other units in an integrated and harmonious manner. The whole is more than the sum of the parts.
To achieve its goals in promoting values of rationality, tolerance, pluralism, freedom of expression, and interaction with international, regional, and local entities, the BA was involved in different research and service programs. In that context, each center and department within the BA complex shoulders the responsibility of number of projects, other projects require the cooperation of different BA departments and centers, thus, achieving the BA mission.