In the year 2000, TEF was established in the United States. The following year, some of the founding members traveled to Timbuktu, Mali to do field research and assess the condition of the 700,000 volumes of books in the three major University sites and its vicinity. At this time, TEF was granted sole guardianship by the government of Mali and officials from the city of Timbuktu. A counsel and advisory committee was also established which consists of government officials, scholars, religious leaders of the different Masajid, and the families in possession of the private manuscript collections. The members of the counsel and advisory committee are working jointly with TEF to facilitate the implementation and execution of the objectives of the organization. They will ensure that the work of the conservation is successful. Offices in Timbuktu and Bamako, the capital of Mali, were provided for TEF's operations in the African continent.