On the occasion of the transfer of its administrative power, the BA held a press conference on Sunday, 28 May 2017 with the participation of Dr. Adel El-Beltagy, Chair of the BA BoT Executive Committee; Dr. Ismail Serageldin, BA Founding Director; and Dr. Mostafa el Feki, the newly appointed BA Director.
Dr. El-Beltagy stated that this occasion is a groundbreaking event in the history of the BA, for it is an occasion that celebrates and honors the efforts of the founding director and his dedication to the BA that lasted for 15 years, turning the Library into a beacon of enlightenment in Egypt and worldwide.
Dr. El-Beltagy also noted that Dr. Serageldin has been appointed as a BoT member, and that he will be an active contributor to various activities alongside his duties and role as Egypt’s ambassador of intellectual and enlightened thought.
Dr. Serageldin thanked all his colleagues at the BA, stating that they are the force behind the Library’s success over the past years, and expressed his pride in the great history of Alexandria and its Bibliotheca. He also added that over the past 15 years, the BA has become recognized as a partner entity by its top peers, such as the National Library of France (BnF) and the Library of Congress.
In his speech, Dr. Mostafa el Feki affirmed that his primary concern is the status and merit of the BA and that his mission is to further build on the strong foundation and achievements of the past 15 years, for the BA will remain an internationally renowned beacon of knowledge and culture.
He also stated that the BA has left its mark on the international scene in the field of culture and enlightenment, noting that he had participated in several of its national and international events and conferences. Thus, he is well aware of the magnitude of effort the BA has employed to successfully provide the proper tools to communicate and benefit people in Egypt and to actively represent a universal human identity worldwide.