The Organisation of the National Archives Central Office

The National Archives Central Office is divided into 5 departments that are each directed by a department head. A staff team directed by Staff Manager Tor Breivik coordinates agency-wide tasks. A Communication Staff directed by Head of Information Margaret S. Aarsæther coordinates communication tasks. The department heads and the Head of The Regional Departmen tconstitute the National Archives' Executive Team together with Director General Ivar Fonnes. 

The Appraisal and Supervision Department

This department is responsible for contact with record creators in the public and private sectors. We are also in contact with other entities preserving archives outside the realm of the National Archives of Norway. The department is charged with supervising the archiving in public administration and with ensuring that government record creators have sorted their records and performed preservation and disposal evaluations of the archival material prior to depositing it with the National Archives. We have the primary responsibility for receiving electronic records. The department has agency-wide responsibility for its field of operation, and coordinates the National Archives of Norway's tasks and operations therein. In addition, the department serves repository functions for private archives. The department has three sub-sections. The Department Head is Anne Mette Dørum.

Section for Electronic Record Creation (ELARK)

This section is tasked with the standardisation of electronic record creation in public administration. Supervising the creation of archives in government administration and providing technical guidance and support for issues around digital archives are important section tasks. The section is responsible for correct deposition of digital archives of government administration. In addition, this section handles all issues relating to municipal archives. Head of Section is Assistant Director Geir Ivar Tungesvik.

Section for Appraisal

This section is charged with evaluating public administration archives for appraisal. The section facilitates the deposition of paper archives from government administration offices, a task that includes approving deposition checklists. Moreover, the section is tasked with overseeing the facilities where paper archives from the central government administration are stored. Acting Head of Section is Assistant Director Lars-Jørgen Sandberg.

Section for Private Archives

This section is responsible for the National Archives' work with private archives, i.e. records left by enterprises, organisations and individuals. The tasks involved are the selection, deposition, preservation and cataloguing of this material. Moreover, the section has some operational duties related to the Director General's coordination of work with private archives within and outside the National Archives of Norway. Head of Section is Assistant Director Sigrun Rasmussen.

The Repository Department

This department is tasked with the preservation and cataloguing of archival material deposited with the National Archives. It is responsible for digitising, making publicly accessible and maintaining originally digital and digitised agency records. Its responsibilities also include developing principles and systems for archival description as well as the responsibility for the National Archives of Norway's online catalogues. The department has three sub-sections. The Department Head is Ole Gausdal.

Section for Paper Repository and Archival Description

This section is charged with the description and preservation of government administration archives (dating from after 1814) on paper, and with readying such archives for use. Its area of responsibility also includes quality-assuring the National Archives' archival descriptions in Asta [information system for systematic registration and retrieval of information on archives and creators], as well as developing methods and systems for archival description. This also applies to the online catalogues. Head of Section is Assistant Director Linda Holmås.

Section for Digital Repository

This section is tasked with describing and preserving archival material originally created in digital format, as well as readying such material for use. Its responsibility includes developing methods and systems for receipt control and testing of archival material originally created in digital format. The section is charged with making digital archival material available online. Head of Section is Assistant Director Olav Sataslåtten.

Section for Digitalisation and Conservation

This section is responsible for digitising archival material on paper and other analogue media for online access, preventive conservation and restoration of paper material, as well as photographic services. Head of Section is Assistant Director Kristian Hunskaar.

The Public Services Department

This department is responsible for the National Archives' services to the public, including the case management of inquiries, public services in the National Archives and various types of dissemination initiatives. The repository responsibility for archives dating from before 1814 and the responsibility for scientific source publications also fall to this department. The department has three sub-sections. The Department Head is Øyvind Ødegaard.

Section for Outreach

Its field of operation includes active dissemination of the National Archives' material through exhibits, publications, online presentations and user-oriented outreach. The National Archives' library is located in this section. Head of Section is Assistant Director Bård Alsvik.

User Services

This section is responsible for providing the users of the National Archives with case management, archival research, guidance and reading room services. Head of Section is Assistant Director Tine Berg Floater.

Section for Older Archives and Special Collections

This section is tasked with the description and preservation of our archival material dating from before 1814, as well as the public services related to this material. The section also holds repository responsibility for some special collections. Head of Section is Assistant Director Alfhild Nakken.

Section for Source Publications

This section is in charge of the National Archives' scientific source publications, which are published in collaboration with an external commission, Kjeldeskriftkommisjonen [the source document commission]. It falls to the commission to prioritise these publications. Head of Section is Assistant Director Tor Ulset.

The Administrative Department

This department is in charge of administration of the National Archives and holds the overarching responsibility for administrative functions within the National Archives of Norway. The Department Head is Kari Metliaas.

The personnel section

The personnel section is responsible for the handling of running personnel matters, the formulation and maintainance of the National Archive's personnel regulations and also to make sure that the National Archives has a good personnel policy. Head of Section is personnel manager Anne Størseth.

The archive section

The section is responsible for the internal archiving in the National Archives and the Regional State Archives in Oslo. It is also their responsibility to make sure that the National Archives has a handling of internal archives that is in accordance with regulations. Head of Section is head of archives Hanne Husby.

The IT Department

This department is responsible for the information technology systems throughout the National Archives of Norway. The Department Head is Ivar Herø.