FaceOf: Saleh Mohammed Al-Misnad, director of the King Abdul Aziz Digital Library

Saleh Mohammed Al-Misnad
  • KADL is participating with King Abdul Aziz Public Library, along with the Arab League and the National Library of China to launch the first Arab-Chinese digital library in Beijing.

Saleh Mohammed Al-Misnad is the director of the King Abdul Aziz Digital Library (KADL) as well as the Arabic Union Catalog (ARUC).

KADL is participating with King Abdul Aziz Public Library, along with the Arab League and the National Library of China to launch the first Arab-Chinese digital library in Beijing today.

Al-Misnad believes that the launch of the Arab-Chinese digital library will help with the cultural exchange between the two nations, as well as help the growth of partnerships based on knowledge and culture.

The KADL director received his bachelor’s degree in library science from Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh in 1978. He pursued a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1988.

After completing his education, Al-Misnad began his career at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University as an instructor and then became an assistant professor. He was later promoted as the deputy of libraries and information department and then head of the department. He served his alma mater as the vice dean of library affairs before switching to King Saud University.

At the King Saud University, besides teaching, he served as the supervisor of the Documentation Center.

He also served as a part-time adviser to the Shoura Council, the King Abdul Aziz Public Library to update the automated library management system, as well as the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

Al-Misnad was appointed director of the Arabic Union Catalog (ARUC) in 2002 and continues to serve in that position. He also serves as a member of the Standing Committee for Documentation, Civil Defense Measures and a decision maker on the Performance Development Committee.

He is also a member of the Saudi Library and Information Society, the Association of Specialized Libraries Gulf Branch and the Arab Federation of Libraries and Information.