Paperiarkisto

Paperiarkisto is a Finnish term that refers to a physical archive consisting of paper documents. In libraries, museums, and government offices in Finland, paper archives preserve administrative records, manuscripts, correspondence, ledgers, maps, prints and other non-digital materials. The central aim is long-term preservation and historical access, balancing born-digital materials with older paper records.

A typical paper archive is organized with a coherent arrangement by provenance, function, or subject, and is described through finding aids and catalog records that enable researchers to locate material. Preservation practices include climate-controlled storage, proper shelving, handling procedures, and measures against damage from light, humidity, and pests. Access policies vary: some material is open to the public, others require researcher registration, and restricted items may be subject to permissions or confidentiality considerations.

Digitization projects are common to many paper-archive collections, enabling online access to scans while preserving the original documents. The management of a paper archive involves curators or archivists who appraise, arrange, describe, and preserve materials, as well as librarians who facilitate reference and access services. In Finland, archival practice follows national standards for preservation and description, including metadata frameworks and archival language. Paperiarkisto thus functions as a traditional, non-digital core that complements digitized or born-digital archives, ensuring that physical primary sources remain available for scholarship and cultural heritage.