Training of unique specialists

The uniqueness of the profession of an archivist-restorer lies in the fact that, unfortunately, not a single educational institution in our country trains such specialists. In this regard, the state institution «Central Laboratory for the Preservation of Documents of the National Archival Fund of the Republic of Belarus» pays special attention to work on professional orientation and strengthening the personnel potential of the institution.

The most promising solution to the personnel issue is seen in close cooperation with the Belarusian State University, which trains archivists, with subsequent training of such specialists directly in the laboratory. Thus, an agreement was reached with the Department of Source Studies to conduct practical classes on the academic discipline «Fundamentals of Microfilming and Restoration of Documents on Paper» with 4th year students of the Historical and Archival Department of the Faculty of History of the Belarusian State University on the basis of the laboratory.

The first cycle of practical classes, which was devoted to the topic of restoration of documents on paper, including the issues of microbiological examination, hygienic cleaning, disinfection, restoration of physical integrity and binding of archival documents, was held by Deputy Director Mezga S.I.

During the classes, future historians-archivists got acquainted with all the stages of the technological process on the topic under consideration. At the same time, students were given the opportunity to get acquainted with not only the documents to be restored, but also with the practical methods of the main technological operations and the materials used.

Conducted practical classes allowed students to consolidate in practice knowledge about the ways and methods of restoring documents on paper.
The next cycle of practical classes will be devoted to the issues of digitization and microfilming of documents.