Initiation of young specialists of the 2024 class into archivists

On August 29, 2024, a ceremonial event was held at the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as NARB) — initiation of young specialists of the 2024 class into archivists. 28 graduates of higher educational institutions came to work at the republican archival institutions and began working as archivists, researchers, and software engineers.

The event began with an interactive quest-excursion, during which young specialists got acquainted with the main areas of activity of archival institutions: acquisition, ensuring the safety of documents, their digitization, use, and the system of scientific reference apparatus. Young specialists easily completed the tasks in each area of work.

In the next part of the initiation, archivists met with the heads of the republican archival institutions (hereinafter referred to as RAI), who presented their archives. The following spoke to the young specialists: Director of NARB A.K.Demyanyuk; Director of the National Historical Archives of Belarus M.M.Glushakov; Director of the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (hereinafter referred to as BGAKFFD) A.N.Gonchar; Director of the Belarusian State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation A.P.Kurakov; Director of the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art E.A.Makarenko; Director of the Belarusian Research Institute of Document Science and Archival Affairs A.E.Rybakov; Director of the Belarusian Research Center for Electronic Documentation D.V.Shabrov; Deputy Director of the Central Laboratory for Ensuring the Preservation of Documents of the National Archival Fund of the Republic of Belarus S.I.Mezga and Acting Editor-in-Chief of the Journal «Archives and Records Management» V.V.Adamchik.

After this, a photo session of young specialists with the industry leadership and RAU directors took place. In the main part of the event, the Director of the Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus O.L.Voinov made a report «On the state of archival work in the Republic of Belarus in 2024». He noted the growth dynamics of the main indicators in the industry, and dwelled in detail on the issue of using archival documents. An important place in the report of the Director of the Department of Archives and Records Management was given to the issue of strengthening the material and technical base of archival institutions. In conclusion, O.L. Voinov informed those present about the work carried out in the industry with young people. He emphasized the importance of providing comprehensive support to young specialists and involving them in the social and cultural life of archival institutions.

Chairman of the Minsk city organization of the Belarusian Trade Union of Workers of State and Other Institutions V.I.Zubrik in his speech spoke about the role of trade unions in protecting the rights of workers and called on young specialists to actively participate in public events. Also, graduates of 2024 were presented with union membership cards.

Representative of JSC ASB Belarusbank — Head of the Documentation Support Department E.L.Shulepova noted the importance of the archival service in preserving the historical and cultural memory of the history of Belarus and wished the young specialists creative and professional success in their new jobs.

Head of the Department of Personnel Policy and Ideological Support of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus S.N.Shendik took part in the event.

Leading archivist of the Department of Automated Archival Technologies D.A.Golubev made a response speech on behalf of the young specialists. He thanked those present for their support and noted the strong corporate spirit of the archivists. The leitmotif of the young specialist’s speech was the motto «Time has chosen us!»

A newsreel from the funds of BGAKFFD about the cultural and social life of Soviet youth in the 1950-1970s was shown to the young specialists.

All participants of the dedication were presented with memorable gifts from the leadership of the archival industry, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus and Belarusbank.

The cultural support of the event was provided by teachers of the NARB-sponsored secondary school No.62 in Minsk, A.Kovalchuk and Danaya, who performed the musical compositions «We Choose Life», «Belarus, Forward!», «While We Are Young». The event was held in a warm and informal atmosphere. Initiation into archivists has become a good tradition in the industry. We are waiting for new young specialists in the archival institutions of our republic.

1. Group photo of the participants of the ceremonial event

2. Speech by the Director of the Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus O.L.Voinov

3. Deputy Head of the Department of Automated Archival Technologies M.N.Zhilinskaya demonstrates the work of a planetary scanner to young specialists

4. Acting Head of the Publications Department T.N.Ageenko introduces young specialists to archival documents

5. Head of the Personal Collections Department I.V.Dorogush introduces young specialists to archival documents

6. Head of the Sector for Regime-Secret Work N.O.Pustovoit introduces young specialists to archival documents

7. Young specialists study the work of the archival card index

8. Young specialists who came to work at NARB take an oath of allegiance to archival work

9. Presentation of trade union cards and valuable gifts from the trade union

10. Director of NARB A.K.Demyanuk and young specialists who came to work at NARB

11. Director of BelNICED  D.V.Shabrov and young specialists who came to work at BelNICED