RIYADH: Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan on Wednesday appointed Abdulrahman Al-Asim as CEO of the Libraries Authority, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Al-Asim will be responsible for the development of the libraries sector with all the related systems, staff and infrastructure. The authority’s role will include setting 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. Al-Asim served the cultural sector in previous periods through managing book fairs and his relationship with the reading society in the Kingdom. He is currently the manager of the Riyadh International Bookfair. The authority will be the official body that issues licenses for relevant activities. It will also build a database for the libraries sector, encourage financing and investment, organize conferences and events, and provide professional training programs for those interested in the field. The Libraries Authority is one of 11 new bodies launched by the Ministry of Culture to oversee cultural sectors in the Kingdom.