Development and Innovation: Online Booking System for Archive Reading Rooms Launched in Belarus

The Molodechno Archive has become the first in Belarus to launch an online reading room booking system, significantly simplifying access to archival materials for researchers, students, and all interested citizens. Users can now book a time slot for a reading room visit in advance through a special service on the ZGA Molodechno website, eliminating queues and creating a more comfortable environment for working with documents. This initiative aims to improve visitor service and enhance the archive’s efficiency.

The resource’s intuitive interface allows users to choose a convenient visit date and includes a number of additional features. For example, users can track the status of their reservations by entering their phone number. Three statuses are available: «pending», «cancelled», and «confirmed». Users can also view a history of their visits and the documents they accessed. The platform offers users a choice of interface languages, improving the usability and clarity of the service. Languages available: Russian, Belarusian, and English.

The system also brings significant benefits to archive staff. After logging in, archival administrators can track user appointments in real time, view the reservation calendar, and manage visitor flows. This optimizes reading room operations and prevents overcrowding. Each entry, including all visit information, is automatically copied to the archive’s closed Telegram bot. This ensures secure data storage. Automation of processes eliminates the need to maintain paper logs, simplifies the work of archivists, and allows them to focus on more important tasks.

The introduction of an online resource for reading room reservations at the Molodechno Regional State Archives is a step toward modern archival technology, opening new horizons for research and the promotion of archival collections.

For reference: In 2025, 212 people used the reading room of the Zonal State Archives in Molodechno, making 441 visits.

1. Reservation registration

2. Detail of the resource for reserving a place in the reading room

3. One of the platform sections

4. Admin panel

5. Example of a reservation notification in the archive’s closed Telegram channel