Archivization

Archivization is the process of identifying, appraising, acquiring, preserving, and making accessible records and artifacts with enduring value, for use by present and future generations. It encompasses the lifecycle of records from creation or receipt through disposition, including governance, description, and dissemination.

In physical archives, archivization includes proper housing, conservation, environmental control, and cataloging. In digital environments, it emphasizes digital preservation: bit-level integrity, format migration or emulation, and the use of metadata standards such as Dublin Core, PREMIS, METS, and preservation metadata. The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) model is commonly used as a reference framework.

Core activities are appraisal to determine value and retention, accessioning, arrangement and description, storage, preservation planning, and access. Metadata supports discovery, provenance, authenticity, and context, while preservation strategies include redundant storage, checksums, periodic migrations, and policy-driven access controls.

Archivization supports accountability, scientific and cultural research, legal compliance, and organizational memory. Repositories may be national archives, university archives, corporate archives, or community collections. The field emphasizes long-term stewardship, sustainability, and transparent provenance to ensure that materials remain usable and understandable over time.