The International Friends developed in the 1990's to help support the idea of building a new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a public research library with worldwide significance. Initial efforts were devoted to forming interest groups in several countries, resulting in Friends of the BA associations in Norway, France, Sweden, Greece, Australia, Italy, the UK, Mexico, South Africa, and within the United States. October 2008 saw the formalization of the organization into the International Friends of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina -- IFBA, which has expanded significantly.

Today the International Friends support the BA through

Meetings of the International Friends are held annually at the Bibliotheca to hear updates on BA activities and support needs, to review progress on the group's goals, to plan upcoming support programs, to enjoy cultural entertainments, and to renew professional and personal friendships which have grown through the years. Chapters bring special materials to add to the library collections, deliver papers on scholarly topics, and present programs of international interest in Alexandria and in the chapter's region.

Links to information about the Friends of the BA and webpages of individual national and state chapters give more detail.