Arkivarie

Arkivarie is a term used in several Nordic languages to denote a professional who manages archives—the people responsible for acquiring, arranging, describing, preserving, and providing access to records of enduring value. The English equivalent is archivist. In Swedish and Norwegian, arkivarie (and variants such as arkivarie in certain contexts) refers to the core professional in archival institutions; female forms are common in some language varieties. The term reflects the field of archival science, which combines history, information management, and access services.

Typical duties include collecting and appraising records, arranging and describing holdings in finding aids, ensuring preservation of physical and digital materials, managing access and reference services, and facilitating research. Arkivarier may also participate in records management policy, appraisal for legal compliance, rights management, and outreach to scholars and the public. In smaller organizations, an arkivarie may wear multiple hats, including librarian, curator, or IT support for digital archives.

Preparation commonly involves a university degree in archival science, library and information science, history, or a related discipline, with specialized training in appraisal, metadata standards, and digital preservation. Professional certification and ongoing continuing education are valued in many countries.

Arkivarier work in national and regional archives, university and state libraries, government ministries, municipalities, and cultural institutions. The role emphasizes context-aware preservation and long-term accessibility; ethical and legal considerations include privacy, intellectual property, and provenance.

See also: Archivist, Archives, Records management.