Arkistodigitaalisia

Arkistodigitaalisia is a Finnish term used to describe the practice, methods, and outputs associated with digital archiving of archival materials. It refers to both digitization—the conversion of physical records into digital surrogates—and the ongoing, long-term preservation and access of those digital objects. The concept covers the lifecycle of digital archival materials, from capture and metadata creation to storage, preservation, and public availability.

The scope of arkistodigitaalisia includes digitization workflows, metadata generation, quality control, and the management of digital provenance and authenticity. It emphasizes maintaining the integrity and context of originals, ensuring that digital surrogates remain usable and trustworthy over time. This field intersects with library science, archival science, and records management, and it supports activities ranging from national digitization programs to local archival projects.

Standards and best practices commonly associated with arkistodigitaalisia include adherence to the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model, and the use of metadata and packaging standards such as METS, PREMIS, and Dublin Core. File formats are chosen with permanence in mind, often favoring robust formats like TIFF for images and PDF/A for documents, alongside proper metadata to enable search and interoperability. Preservation actions, checksums, format migration strategies, and secure, redundant storage are typical components of a digital archiving strategy.

In Finland, the concept is reflected in national digitization initiatives and institutions such as Kansallisarkisto and the Kansallinen digitaalinen kirjasto, which work to provide long-term access to digitized cultural heritage materials. Arkistodigitaalisia thus encompasses the practical, technical, and policy dimensions of preserving and providing enduring access to digital archival resources.