In the introduction, the author recollects the initiative and the programme (1972) for systematic publishing of important historical sources and the establishment of the Viri series. In the first decade of its existence and after two published editions, the series more or less vegetated, but gained momentum at the end of the 1980's with the appointment of a new editor-in-chief. Since then at least one edition was published every year, twenty altogether to this date. Furthermore, the author warns about the ambiguous status of the series within the Archival Association of Slovenia and mostly about the lack of understanding of civil sendees forfinancing, which presents the main obstacle for the Viri series.