Appraisal

The appraisal of records is essentially a practical issue. The volume of records and electronic data in modern society, whether in paper or electronic form, is extensive and it is costly to preserve all records. 

When appraisal requests are made, an evaluation is made of the preservation value of the records that are requested to be disposed of. The information value of documents is always examined and whether information concerns citizens’ rights, the interests of the administration or the history of the Icelandic nation. It is also examined whether information in the records is found in more places and whether the documents that are requested to be destroyed have temporary value for the entities that are obliged to transfer. 

To apply for appraisal of records, a special form, an appraisal request, must be completed and sent to the National Archives. There are two forms, one for paper records and one for electronic data. 

When an appraisal request has been received by the National Archives, the archivists review the request, evaluate the information contained in it and call for further information if needed. When all required information is available, the request is submitted to the National Archivist for processing, and the National Archivist approves or rejects the request as appropriate. The National Archivists to be consulted in deciding on requests for appraisal are the Deputy director general and the Director of Data acquisition and supervision. 

Each appraisal permit approved by the National Archivist only applies to the entity responsible for the submission of the request. 

The request for appraisal form can be found here

The National Archives publish decisions of the National Archivist regarding appraisal requests at regular intervals, see handled requests for appraisal here. 

In 2014-2019, the appraisal council took decisions on appraisal requests, which were attended by the National Archives, the Director of the Department of Archiving and the City archivist of Reykjavík. The appraisal requests that were handled during that period can be found here. 

• Reglur um varðveislu og eyðingu skjala úr fjárhagsbókhaldi afhendingarskyldra aðila (nr. 1022/2023)

• Reglur um meðferð, varðveislu og eyðingu á tölvupóstum afhendingarskyldra aðila (nr. 331/2020)

• Reglur um eyðingu prófúrlausna og metinna námsmatsgagna hjá afhendingarskyldum aðilum (nr. 913/2021)

• Reglur um grisjun í skjalasöfnum sveitarfélaga og stofnana þeirra (nr. 627/2010)

• Grisjun. Leiðbeiningar fyrir ríkisstofnanir um grisjun skjala (2010)

• Varðveisla og eyðing skjala sveitarfélaga. 13. kafli í Handbók um skjalavörslu sveitarfélaga (2010)

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