The National Archives of Hungary (Budapest, 2006)

MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES - County Archives (Regional, general public archives) by Csaba Káli

While quite a small group is interested in scientific work, public can be interested in educational activity of archives and the archives can 'sell' themselves this way The annual archival days have become usual since the 1970s and mainly since 1980s. In some cases it was two or three days but usually it lasts one day. At these occasions the archivists of the given archives or the invited people hold lectures in connection with historical problems of the region. Certain archives organize exhibitions independently or together with other partner institutions once or more times a year (often together with their archival day). Then the treasures of natural heritage (charters, records, maps, documents) are introduced for a shorter or longer period of time which usually have a rest in the cellars of the stores. Archives usually consider a very important task to let the students know the methods of studying written sources. Archival lessons required by schools are very popular among students since they can see (or even touch) the sources at the time about which they could read only or at best they could see pictures in their student's book. It is also very important if we take the rising generation into consideration. These are the cases when students are influenced by this profession, which can be chosen for life.