Department for Archives and Records Management of the Justice Ministry held an enlarged board meeting
On 22 January 2014 the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Justice Ministry held an enlarged board meeting to review the activities of the archives and records management authorities and the state archival institutions in the Republic of Belarus in 2013 and to set the objectives for 2014.
Attending the meeting were the Deputy Minister for Justice A. Bodak, heads and deputy heads of the main justice boards at the regional executive committees and the Minsk City Executive Committee, heads of the archives and records divisions, directors of state archives, members of the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Justice Ministry. In all, 60 persons attended the meeting.
The Director of the Department for Archives and Records Management V. Adamushko delivered a report. Directors at the state archives and the regional representatives took part in the debates. In 2013 the state archives were active in completing the Archives of Belarus State Programme for 2011-2015. 4,6 billion roubles were used from the republic’s budget. In the regions the activities were financed from the local funds to the sum of 10,4 billion roubles.
As on 1 January 2014 the state archives have in their custody 49 603 fonds; 12 508 271 paper items; 39 661 film records; 262 575 photographic records; 17 271 sound records; 3 422 video records; 13 electronic fonds, 565 electronic items; 703 museum items. 26 state archives have registered 337 313 especially valuable files, which makes up 2,7% of the total amount.
An important activity at the state archives is the provision of information services to customers and the execution of legal and social inquiries. During the past year the state archives handled nearly 30 000 inquiries from citizens, executed about 300 genealogical requests and over 20 000 subject requests. Over 16 000 people visited and consulted the archives in person. 93 official heraldic symbols were entered into the State Heraldry Register of the Republic of Belarus.
In 2013 the state archives organized 81 exhibitions, published 11 books of documents, 2 guides, 1 monograph, 1 book of recollections and 2 annual periodicals.