Under the slogan “Archives Accessible – Archives for Everyone”, the 18th edition of the annual open week will let visitors handle centuries-old manuscripts, watch conservation demonstrations and try genealogical research with staff guidance.
“Archives are not dusty vaults but living stories of past generations,” chief archivist Paweł Pietrzyk said, adding that the program aims to appeal “from seasoned local historians to families with children and even aviation buffs.”
The headline attraction is “One More Summer: 1914-1918,” a three-player cooperative game based on civilians’ diaries from the Great War, unveiled last month in Kraków.
Players steer Polish families from the Russian, Prussian and Austrian partitions through food shortages, shelter and frontline news; sets will be available at most branches.
Events begin on 6 June in Toruń with a maritime-history exhibition and cartography workshops, followed by an “Archives Picnic” in Warsaw, Koszalin and Lublin on 7 June featuring photo-care advice, VR displays and flight-simulator sessions.
Open-house tours nationwide are scheduled for the official International Archives Day on 9 June.
The celebrations will close on 14 June in Szczecin with lectures and exhibits on local football club Pogoń Szczecin. A full schedule is posted on the archives’ website.
(jh)
Source: PAP, AP