arkistonhoidon

Arkistonhoito, or archival management, is the discipline of organizing and preserving records of enduring value to individuals, organizations, and society. It covers the entire lifecycle of records—from creation and capture to disposition and long-term preservation—ensuring their authenticity, integrity, usability, and lawful access.

In Finnish contexts, arkistonhoito is the term used for archival management in public archives and organizations, and it is guided by national archival legislation and professional standards, as well as international frameworks. Core activities include appraisal to determine retention periods; accessioning and classification; description and metadata creation; storage and preservation (physical or digital); access provision and use management; and the transfer of archival materials to higher levels or disposal according to retention schedules.

In practice, arkistonhoito is carried out by archivists and information managers within public administrations, libraries, businesses, and private archives. It is governed by professional standards and laws, including data protection rules, and aligns with international frameworks such as ISO 15489 for information and documentation and the OAIS reference model for digital archives.

Digital records present particular challenges; arkistonhoito emphasizes metadata, long-term file formats, fixity checks, and policies for migration or emulation to ensure continued access and authenticity.

The aim is to support accountability, transparency, legal compliance, cultural heritage preservation, and efficient information governance.