Arkivvärden

Arkivvärden, or archival value, is a concept in archival science used to describe the quality of records that justifies their long-term preservation and continued accessibility. It reflects the records’ usefulness as evidence of an organization’s functions and decisions, as well as their potential to support future research, accountability, and understanding of historical processes.

The assessment of arkivvärden guides the appraisal and selection process within records management. Records are evaluated for various value dimensions, typically including evidential value (documentation of decisions and activities), administrative value (support for ongoing operations and governance), legal value (compliance with laws and rights), informational value (data and knowledge for future users), and cultural or historical value (contribution to collective memory). The aim is to identify materials that have enduring significance beyond immediate administrative needs and to distinguish them from records of limited or temporary use.

Appraisal and selection are conducted within a life-cycle framework, balancing resource constraints with the obligation to preserve records that provide proof of function, sequence, and context. Practically, this leads to retention schedules, disposal decisions, and the creation of finding aids and cataloging to ensure future access. Privacy, legal restrictions, and ethical considerations are also taken into account when determining archival value and disposal.

Arkivvärden thus underpins professional practices in archives, libraries, and institutions by clarifying why certain records deserve preservation and how they can best serve current and future researchers, citizens, and public accountability.