Szanowni Państwo!

The current issue of “Ochrona Zabytków” devotes much space to the past and contemporary approach to the conservation of historical monuments. This turned out to be a complicated problem since such ostensibly fundamental terms as the assorted aspects of conservation, restoration, reconstruction, decomposition or arrangement continue to provoke discussions. At the same time, we are witnessing the emergence of a uniform, worldwide vocabulary used by professionals dealing with the protection of historical monuments and the treatment of its contents as universally binding in all sorts of conservation undertakings. At present it is maintained that planning conservation should involve all environments associated with care for monuments, and that the conservator should play the part of an advocate of cultural property. We heartily encourage you to join in the pertinent debate. The manner in which the language of theory is translated into practice is illustrated by successive articles on, i. a. a project for reactivating the New Market Square in Wrocław or the historical transformations of the Public Library building in Warsaw and conception of its expansion. We particularly recommend learning about the computer analysis of the image, applied in research dealing with historical objects. The non-invasive character of this analysis makes it possible to make a precise diagnosis and is conducive for prophylaxis. Computers of the newest generation come to the aid of researchers, but their oldest predecessors already demand conservation. Its essence is discussed in an article on the collections of electronic calculation objects featured at the Museum of Technology in Warsaw. The protection of the landscape and the traces of material and non-material heritage contained therein is considered in texts on the Bieszczady National Park. Readers interested in the state of the preservation of rock material and connected technological processes are recommended the article about Grodziec Castle in Lower Silesia. In the next issue you shall find a certain dose of exotica. We sincerely hope that you have been expecting such an exchange of conservation experiences. Respectfully yours, Jacek Rulewicz Director of the National Centre for Historical Monument Studies and Documentation