Assabil
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Members

What is Assabil?

Assabil, the Friends of Public Libraries, is a Lebanese NGO founded in 1997 to establish and support public libraries in Lebanon, free and open to everyone. We are guided by the principles that are set forth in the 1994 IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.

Assabil is a membership association; a seven-member administrative committee manages the operations of the association:

  • Opening and managing Beirut's only two municipal public libraries
  • Coordinating a network of 25 public libraries located throughout the country
  • Distributing more than 100,000 books to public libraries and schools in Lebanon
  • Organizing activities in public libraries in Lebanon
  • Conducting training sessions for libraries' staff

Recently we have been asked by the Municipality of Beirut to establish and manage an additional ten municipal public libraries in Beirut.

 

>| Key dates in our history
Team Members
Administrative Committee:
Michele Warde-Fawaz, assistant professor in Sociology at the Saint-Joseph University, President
Nawal Traboulsi, librarian, Vice-President
Clarisse Chebli, librarian, Secretary
Ziad Bou Alwan, architect, Treasurer
Lina Tannir, consultant at the Ministry of Finance, Accountant
Claude Boustany-Hajjar, assistant professor in Social Anthropology at the Saint-Joseph University (USJ), Member
Joe Haddad, architect, Member
Members of the Association:
Ziad Bou Alwan Maria Ousseimi
Antoine Boulad Isabelle Pellen
Claude Boustany-Hajjar Leila Rifai
Clarisse Chebli Yahya Sadowski
Youssef Fawaz Rasha Salti
Hoda Ghossoub Joumana Sawaya
Joe Haddad Marwan Tabet
Wissam Halawi Lina Tannir
Aline Hazarabedian Monique Tannous
Najla Khoury Nadim Tarazi
Susanne Lane Jana Traboulsi
Nadia Majed Nawal Traboulsi
Ziad Majed Marielle Warde-Fayad
Maida Mekdessi Michele Warde-Fawaz
Katya Oueiss  
Board of Trustees:
Etel Adnan, artist, writer and poet
Samir Kassir, historian and journalist murdered on the 2nd of june 2005
Simone Fattal, artist, sculptor and publisher
Mirène Ghossain, professor
Wadad El-Hoss, director, International College
Souad Hubert, director of intenational relations, BPI, Georges Pompidou Center
Souhail Idriss, publisher, Dar al-Adab
Elias El-Khoury, novelist and journalist
Fady Moughaizel, lawyer
Ryad Najib al-Rayyess, publisher, Rayyess Press
Joseph Samaha, editor in chief, as-Safir daily
Fawwaz Traboulsi, historian and writer, professor, Lebanese American University