Säilivust

Säilivust is a Finnish term used to refer to a site or facility dedicated to the preservation and storage of objects, data, or materials. In archival science and information management, säilivust denotes the environment, infrastructure, and organization that ensure long-term accessibility, authenticity, and integrity of holdings. The concept covers both physical locations and digital repositories, reflecting a focus on preservation over time.

Physical säilivust refers to tangible facilities designed for secure and controlled storage. Typical examples include archives, libraries, museums, vaults, and climate-controlled storage rooms. Key features usually include controlled temperature and humidity, protection against light and pests, robust security measures, and careful handling procedures. Access policies and inventory systems help prevent loss, theft, or damage while enabling authorized research and use.

Digital säilivust encompasses repositories and data storage environments that safeguard digital objects. This includes on-site data centers and cloud-based preservation platforms. Important considerations are data redundancy, format deprecation management, metadata standards, and adherence to preservation models such as OAIS (Open Archival Information System). Digital säilivusts aim to maintain authenticity and renderability of digital materials across hardware and software changes.

Preservation practices within säilivusts involve governance, conservation planning, documentation, and lifecycle management. This includes metadata creation, environmental monitoring for physical sites, regular integrity checks, disaster recovery planning, and clear access and rights policies. Properly managed säilivusts support research, cultural heritage, compliance, and organizational resilience by ensuring that preserved materials remain usable long into the future.

See also: archiving, data preservation, digital preservation, repository, vault.