According to the Information Minister, in the era of IT, a new approach is needed in creating encyclopaedias. With so many changes in the spheres of economics, politics and culture since the 2008 release of the seven-volume Republic of Belarus encyclopaedia, updating is essential. Encyclopaedias can’t be printed every year of course. Lilia Ananich stresses that the Electronic Encyclopaedia Republic of Belarus project enables information to be updated far more regularly. She explains, “At present, the project is being launched in Russia and is undergoing a preparatory stage in our country. I think that we’ll start its implementation this year.” Meanwhile, modern printing technologies enable ‘print on demand’ copies to be made.
The Director of the Petrus Brovka Belarusian Encyclopaedia Publishing House, Vladimir Andrievich, emphasises that work has begun, with archives revised and technical specifications elaborated, for submission as needed. He comments, “We have a good basis and good encyclopaedists. Together with young specialists, we’ll be able to make a seriously high quality product.”
By Mikhail Svetlov
