A board meeting of the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus
On March 01, 2022, the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus held a board meeting to discuss the implementation in 2021 of the subprogram “Archives of Belarus” under the State Program “Culture of Belarus” for 2021-2025, measure 52 “Development of AIS of audiovisual documents for the Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings under the State Program “Digital Development of Belarus” for 2021-2025.
Under Measure 1 “Provision of activities of state archival institutions” of the subprogram “Archives of Belarus”, the state archival institutions have achieved all the targets. They accepted for permanent preservation 125 400 units of archival documents (125,1% of the planned); created 1 123 400 pages of electronic copies of archival documents (128,3% of the planned); held 104 exhibitions of archival documents on stands and showcases (165,1% of the planned).
To create optimal conditions and properly organize the storage of archival documents, a major overhaul of roofs was carried out in the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region and the State Archives of the Gomel Region. Design estimates have been prepared for the overhaul of the gas fire-extinguishing system at the National Historical Archives of Belarus. Preliminary design documentation has been prepared to modernize the facades of the building at the Zonal State Archives in Rechitsa. The Belarusian State Archives of Scientific and Technical Documentation has prepared the project documentation for the renovation of the facade and the entrance door (the building is included in the list of historical and cultural properties in Minsk); the water supply and sewerage systems in the building, including the fire water supply system, have been modernized. The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus has undergone a major overhaul (modernization) of the data centre equipment complex. Various types of work on current repairs of buildings have been conducted in 20 state archival institutions.
The state archival institutions have published 12 collections of archival documents, held 10 conferences, 42 presentations, prepared 117 television and radio broadcasts, 43 interviews in printed and Internet media, 311 articles and 74 thematic lists of archival documents. The state archives have executed 3,100 thematic, 8,700 biographical, 283 genealogical and 23,000 social and legal enquiries. The reading rooms of the state archives were visited by 3,100 users.
Measure 2 “Provision of activities of territorial (city and district) archives of local executive and administrative bodies” of the subprogram “Archives of Belarus” in 2021 was implemented in full. The territorial (city and district) archives of local executive and administrative bodies were engaged in acquisition of documents of liquidated business entities and individual entrepreneurs who terminated their activities, ensuring their registration, preservation and use. 95,200 permanent and personnel files were taken into custody, 59,600 social and legal requests were fulfilled.
Additional areas for storage of documents were provided to the Gantsevichi and Kobrin district archives. Current repairs were conducted in the Kobrin, Molodechno, Shumilino district archives; Vitebsk, Bobruisk and Mogilev city archives were renovated. Shelving equipment was purchased for the Gantsevichi, Dubrovno, Kamenets, Kobrin, Shumilin district archives and the
Vitebsk city archives. Computers and copying equipment, binding equipment, archival boxes, furniture, etc. were purchased for a number of territorial archives.
Having heard and discussed information about the implementation in 2021 of measure 52 “Development of AIS of audiovisual documents” of the State program “Digital Development of Belarus” for 2021-2025, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus on February 2, 2021 № 66 , the Board noted that the planned activities were implemented in full.
As a result of the state procurement (organized by the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus), the Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings (BGAKFFD) purchased workstations for technical control of digital copies of film and video documents (2 units), a data storage system consisting of LTO (drive (streamer)) – 4 units; LTO 8 – 487 units; the Terms of Reference for upgrading of the Automated Information System of the Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings (AIS BGAKFFD) and the rules of interaction with information systems of the archive industry were developed; the technical design of AIS BGAKFFD was finalized. All purchased equipment was put into operation.