The new building of the State Archive of the Smolensk region was opened

The new building of the State Archive of the Smolensk region, an anniversary facility built as part of the preparation program for the 1150th anniversary of Smolensk was opened in the regional center.

Head of the Federal Archive Agency Andrei Artizov and Vice Governor Nikolai Kuznetsov visited the institution.

The State Archive of the Smolensk region, established on May 19, 1919, is one of the richest regional archives in Russia. There are more than one million archival files, including ancient artifacts of the XVII - XXI centuries: parish registers, census stories, collections of documents on land ownership, local government, province maps, city plans and contemporary documentary sources on the history of the Smolensk region.

Until recently these valuable documents were stored in the six buildings with no proper storage conditions. There were no normal conditions for the employees either. The construction of the new building has solved all these problems. It has an automatic gas fire extinguish system and a modern system of document storage. The constant temperature of 17 degrees above zero with 50% humidity will be maintained in all the storage rooms.

The movable racks allow using the archive space much more efficiently saving up to 40 percent of the space. Thanks to the created space reserve for storing documents there will be no need to look for new premises for the next 100 years.

The additional space in the new building allowed to begin work on digitalizing the documents and introducing new information and communication technologies. There are 76 specialists working in the 10-storey building with the total area of 8,000 square meters. There is a comfortable where up to 35 historians and ethnographers can use the necessary computer equipment and enjoy working conditions convenient for working with historical sources.

At the press briefing arranged after the tour of the Archive it was said that the opening of the new building will let the archive move to a new development level.