arkivering

Arkivering is the process of preserving and organizing records for long-term access and use. It covers both physical documents and digital files and aims to maintain authenticity, integrity, and retrievability beyond the lifetime of their original systems. Arkivering is distinct from day-to-day records management, which focuses on routine creation, use, and disposal.

Key activities include appraisal to determine enduring value, transfer of selected records to a repository, description with metadata, and ongoing preservation in a trusted environment. Access is balanced with privacy, security, and rights management, while ensuring provenance and chain of custody.

Digital preservation relies on models and technologies to counter obsolescence. Common strategies include format migration and emulation, redundant storage, and regular integrity checks. Standards such as OAIS (Open Archival Information System), PREMIS metadata, METS, and the concept of trusted digital repositories guide practice.

Repositories can be institutional (universities, corporations), national archives, or special collections. Governance typically includes retention schedules, accessioning procedures, and access policies. Compliance with legal obligations—public records law, privacy, copyright—shapes what is preserved and who may access it.

The field has roots in traditional archival science and has evolved with digital technologies. Challenges include large data volumes, heterogeneity of formats, and funding constraints. Effective arkivering seeks to ensure long-term accessibility, reliability, and accountability of preserved records.