arkivet

Arkivet is the definite form of the noun arkiv in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, used to refer to both a repository of records and the institution that maintains it. An arkiv is typically a durable, organized collection of documents created or received by individuals, organizations, or government bodies in the course of their activities. Arkivet, as a concept, encompasses both physical archives and digital archives, as well as the systems and practices used to preserve and organize materials for long-term access.

Archives collect a wide range of materials, including official records, manuscripts, correspondence, maps, photographs, audio and video recordings, and electronic records. They apply appraisal, arrangement, and description procedures, and create finding aids, catalogs, and metadata to facilitate discovery. Many arkiv are involved in digitization projects, providing online access to portions of their holdings while preserving originals.

Access policies vary. National, regional, and municipal archives are typically public institutions serving researchers, journalists and citizens, though some materials may be restricted for privacy, security, or copyright reasons. Researchers usually need an appointment or an account, and use is governed by archival rules. Archivists apply standards of provenance and arrangement to maintain authenticity and context.

Etymology: the term arkiv derives from Latin archiva and Greek archeion, through Old French archive, reflecting the long history of record-keeping. In the Nordic languages, arkivet is used as the definite form; the plural arkiv is used to denote archives in general.