riigiarhivide

Riigiarhivide refers to the network of state archives in Estonia and, more generally, to the institutions responsible for preserving the records created by state institutions, local governments, and other public bodies. Their core task is to ensure the long-term preservation of records of permanent value and to provide access to them for citizens, researchers, and institutions.

The central element in the system is the national or state archives, which coordinates standards, methods, and policy across regional and municipal archives. Riigiarhivide collect, arrange, describe, and preserve fonds and collections originating from ministries, courts, parliament, government agencies, and municipal authorities. They also support and advise on records management in public bodies to ensure proper creation, retention, and eventual transfer of documents to archives.

Activities commonly undertaken include appraisal (selecting records of enduring value), conservation and storage, descriptive work and cataloguing, digitization, and the development of online access tools. Public access to most non-personal historical records is typically guaranteed, with certain restrictions applied for sensitive data, privacy, or security concerns. Reproduction, licensing, and usage policies accompany access services.

Riigiarhivide play a key role in safeguarding cultural heritage, enabling historical research, and promoting transparency and accountability in public administration. They also participate in international archival cooperation and skill-sharing to implement best practices in preservation, access, and digital preservation.