Arhiivimist

Arhiivimist is a term used in Estonian-language discourse to describe the practice or process of archiving information and materials. It encompasses activities involved in selecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to archival records, whether in physical repositories or digital environments. The word is formed from arhiiv- 'archive' and the suffix -mist, which marks a process or activity.

In archival science, arhiivimist includes appraisal (valik) and accessioning, arrangement and description, metadata creation, preservation planning, and cataloging. It also covers governance, rights management, and access policies that determine who may use materials and under what conditions. In the digital realm, arhiivimist addresses digital preservation challenges such as format obsolescence, bit rot, and environmental risk, and employs strategies like digitization, emulation, format migration, and robust metadata. Standard practices often rely on established metadata schemas and preservation standards (for example, the use of Dublin Core, EAD or METS for encoding finding aids, and PREMIS for preservation metadata).

Arhiivimist is essential for cultural heritage, government transparency, and scholarly research, helping to ensure the longevity and usability of records over time. It is practiced by archives, libraries, museums, and government agencies, and is a core aspect of records management and information governance.