Charakterystyka potrzeb użytkowników zasobu archiwalnego dawniej i dziś na przykładzie Archiwum Państwowego w Lublinie Oddział w Radzyniu Podlaskim

The article attempts to analyse issues that became the subject of research for fonds users in 1974-2017. This analysis is based on the preliminary archival research conducted in the Department’s registry. Descriptive and annual reports of the Department constitute another important source used for the research. The author of this study could perceive peculiar “changeability of tendencies” regarding the subject matter that was of some interest to enquirers who addressed the Archives in Radzyń Podlaski in different periods of its functioning. Moreover, he claims that the mentioned „changeability” was determined by legal acts coming into force, i.e. points to a crucial role of the legisla-tor. The author indicates that popularizing knowledge about archives was extremely important. Consequently, it led to the dynamic development and interest in broadly understood genealogy, along with the formation of nationwide portals promoting this "branch" of archive science. Apart from noticing the „changeability” of users’ interests, thanks to the analysis of incoming letters, it was possible to symbolically define a time frame of particular problems. Similarly, the author indicates subject matters that were not affected by the mentioned change of tendencies and were examined by users cyclically, throughout the entire period of the Archives existence in the city. Based on his research, the author formulates a thesis that the „changeability” of subject mat-ters that enjoyed enquirers’ interest was also visible in the state archival fonds, while the analysis of the registry belonging to the relatively small Radzyń Department reflects a tendency that existed back then.