RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture has announced the formation of the board of directors of the Libraries Commission, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The board headed by Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan, Minister of Culture will include Deputy Minister of Culture Hamid Bin Mohammed Fayez as deputy chairman with Faisal Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Muammar, Dr. Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi, Dr. Noha Adly Attia, Dr. Dr. John Van Odenaren and the Secretary of the King Fahd National Library Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Rashid as members. The membership of the board is for three years and can be extended. The board is assigned to supervise implementing the goals and strategies of the authority in line with its mandate, and approve the policies related to its activities. The members of the board will meet four times a year or whenever the need arises, according to the SPA report. The Libraries Commission is one of 11 new bodies launched by the Ministry of Culture to oversee cultural sectors in the Kingdom. Under the management of its CEO Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Asim, the commission will develop the library sector within the framework of the national culture strategy. The Commission's role includes making a strategy for the libraries sector, following up on its implementation after it is approved by the Ministry of Culture, establishing regulations and standards for the sector, and coordinating with the authorities to promote reading by developing the library environment and enhancing its services.
