Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

2. Session /Séance. Regional (trans-border) Cooperation / Coopération régionale (transfrontaliere) - Rastas, Pirkko: Archival cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries / La coopération entre les pays Nordique et les pays baltes (english 161 - français 176)

Nordic archival cooperation has also harmonized the archival theory and procedures followed by the archival institutions in these countries. In the Nordic countries no difference is made between records management and archives administration. The records are considered to be a part of the archives as soon as they are filed after processing. The Nordic National Archives have all stressed how important it is to train and direct the records managers of authorities. Consequently many state and municipal records managers participate in the Nordic Archival Congresses.

3. 2. A common Nordic archival Bulletin

From 1956 the Nordic archival authorities have been publishing the common bulletin, Nordisk Arkivnyt. The initiative came from the Director of the Sjelland Provincial Archives in Denmark Harald Jörgensen, who vigorously promoted both Nordic and international cooperation during his 25 years as editor of the bulletin. The paper is nowadays edited in Sweden. Every Nordic country has a corresponding editor, who gathers and edits the news material concerning their own country.

3.3. Other common Publications

In 1968, Harald Jörgensen published a rather thorough description of the Nordic archives (Nordiske arkiver). He also edited the 9 volume series, Nordisk Arkiv- kunskap, which covered such central issues as conservation, archival storage space, appraisal and disposal, terminology and publicity of records in the Nordic countries. Reports have also been published from quite a few Nordic Archival Congresses of recent decades.

3. 4. Cooperation on ADP between the Nordic archives

Experts on ADP from the Nordic National Archives have arranged annual meetings since 1987. A Nordic project has now started to develop a common, reasonably simple database program independent of computer type in order to make it easier to use ADP-material in National Archives for research purposes. Computer files have, until now been preserved on magnetic tapes as sequential files, that require a special programme if they should be used for research purposes. The plans also include arranging of a course for archivists on the possibilities of using ADP in archives and the problems in connection with preservation of ADP material.

4. The need for archival development in the independent Baltic countries

The writer made a journey together with her colleague, Raimo Pohjola, to all Baltic countries in spring, 1992. The purpose of the journey was to get a picture of the archival infrastructure in the Baltic countries and to see if they were interested in and prepared for international archival cooperation. When ICA accepted Estonia as a member, it suggested that Finland or Sweden should evaluate the Estonian archival institution. We wanted especially to hear Estonian opinions. Another reason for the journey was the making of this report.

2. Session/Séance: Rastas, Cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic Countries

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