Arkivmaterial

Arkivmaterial refers to records created or received by individuals, organizations, or households in the course of their activities that are preserved for long-term use. The term is used in Norwegian and Swedish archival practice and is often equated with archival material in English. Arkivmaterial can take many forms, including paper documents, correspondence, maps, photographs, audio and video recordings, microforms, digital files, emails, and born-digital records. The key characteristic is value for evidence, information, or cultural heritage, which justifies long-term preservation.

Archivists organize arkivmaterial according to provenance and original order, preserving the context in which records were created. Materials are grouped into fonds, series, and files, and described with metadata and finding aids to support discovery and access. Appraisal determines what to retain; not all created records have enduring value. Transfer to an archive is usually accompanied by documentation on provenance, custody, and access restrictions.

Access to arkivmaterial is governed by policies that balance research needs with privacy, copyright, and security concerns. Some items may be restricted or redacted. Descriptive standards, such as ISAD(G) and ISAAR(CPF), are commonly used to produce consistent catalog records and authority data. Digitization projects are common to increase access, though originals are typically preserved and handled under controlled conditions.

Preservation involves physical conservation, climate control, proper housing, and digital preservation strategies such as file format selection, integrity checks, and regular migrations. National and regional archives may provide guidance, standards, and repositories for arkivmaterial.