Äänitearkisto

Äänitearkisto, officially the Finnish National Sound Archive, is a public institution in Finland responsible for collecting, preserving, and making accessible Finnish sound recordings. It operates as part of the National Library of Finland. The archive's mission is to safeguard the auditory heritage of the nation, encompassing a wide range of materials from music and spoken word to historical broadcasts and environmental sounds.

The collections at Äänitearkisto are extensive and diverse. They include commercial music releases, folk music recordings, radio programs, documentaries, speeches, and oral histories. The archive aims to document the cultural, social, and historical development of Finland through its soundscape. Access to the collections is provided to researchers, students, and the general public, with varying degrees of availability depending on copyright and preservation status.

Äänitearkisto plays a crucial role in cultural preservation and research. By ensuring the long-term survival of sound recordings, it allows future generations to engage with and study Finland's sonic past. The institution also actively participates in national and international cooperation efforts related to sound archiving and digital preservation. Its work contributes to the understanding of Finnish identity and cultural memory.