Unique materials of the Presidential Library are single-click easy now

8 August 2017

The Presidential Library launched a new Internet portal, which significantly expanded a package and a quality of offered services. The long stages of project work on design and development have preceded a release, and at the end the website successfully helps everyone who wants to get familiar with all variety of the digital library stock. At the heart of the concept of the new Internet resource is the experience of the Presidential Library as the first completely digital national library for its entire period of work.

First of all, of particular note are the changes relevant to an access to the electronic fund. For example, now users can get to the content of the Presidential Library right after moving to inquired document from the search, catalog or collection, with no need of preorder. Additionally, web browsing does not require installation of additional software and is supported by all popular browsers, including on mobile devices. Also, there is no need for authorization or registration any more, now user can work with the full text directly after following to an obtained document.

Apart from library and archival documents, the Presidential Library stock includes audiovisual materials. Owing recent updates, these files are also viewable on all present browsers and operating systems, including mobile ones. This applies to online Internet broadcasts, covering most of major events that take place in the Presidential Library in real-time mode.

An updated section with digital collections of the Presidential Library facilitates a process of finding the right document as well. Now users can see the entire structure of the collection and its current position in it. Any entry has a thumbnail image, so a reader can preview the selected documents and decide with what he wants to continue working. The desired collection could be chosen from the thematic or alphabetical list. With “single-click” user will open the digital copies of materials about the life and work of the pioneer of color photography in Russia Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, either a diary of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, or the scenic views postcards with the embankment pre-revolutionary Yalta.

Another feature of new website is the development of technology of drawing attention of users to digital resources. Click-through rate is higher now because of social networks. Everyone can easily share any material they like in one or another network. Integration with popular services attracts users to the interactive events of the Presidential Library: creative competitions, Olympiads, educational, outreach and awareness raising projects. Owing to the new website, the “Foreign View” International Creative Multimedia Competition now accepts video for competition, while all registration routine is easily going in personal profile area.

To date, the Presidential Library stock numbers more than 550,000 entries. These are electronic copies of published editions and archival documents, audio and video recordings, abstracts of dissertations and other materials reflecting the centuries-old history of Russian statehood, theory and practice of law, and the Russian language as the state language of the Russian Federation. Due to the fact that most of these materials are under copyright and cannot be accessible on the Internet, the Presidential Library dynamically develops a network in the regions and abroad, which includes more than 370 remote access centers with electronic reading rooms. This work is reviewed under the “Remote ERR” section of in the new Internet resource. Users can find the closest center near them on an interactive map. In order to support representatives of remote access centers, the section provides regularly updated methodological information. For those who are just about to join the regional network, detailed instructions are provided.

The Presidential Library plans to further develop the information library system. Currently, an integrated system of access to the digital library stock, functioning on the Internet, in the main in-house library reading room and in remote access centers, is being developed. Interconnected information network of the website and the electronic reading room of the Presidential Library will make the work of users with the resources more efficient owing to various online services, personal profile account, and others.