National Archives' Astia service updated – It is easier than ever to search for and use the materials
In autumn 2025, the search function will be further developed.
The user interface and search function of the Astia service have been significantly updated.
The aim of the changes is to streamline the search and use of materials and to clarify the presentation of search results. The update has been planned by listening to customer feedback in particular.
Key improvements
- User interface: Navigation and instructions have been clarified, the number of clicks required to access the material has been reduced and the material levels (material entity, series and archival unit/sub-unit) have been highlighted in a user-friendly manner.
- Search function: Material and party search have been combined, search results are better organised according to relevance and different results are divided into clear tabs.
- Visual appearance: The appearance of the service has been modernised to correspond to the current graphic standards of the National Archives.
What has not changed?
- The familiar functions: browsing alphabetically, ordering materials in the reading room, making information requests and managing your own data are the same as before.
- Material urls. The urls have remained the same, although the search result urls have been broken due to a change in the search function.
- Asterisk. It is still advisable to truncate a search word with an asterisk (*) to ensure that all inflections are included in the search: for example, "Helsin*".
Further development of the search function
The reform is the first step towards clearer and more efficient information retrieval in the National Archives' services.
In autumn 2025, the search function will be further developed.
Although the update has been carefully tested, minor defects may occur after commissioning. We ask users to report any issues through the feedback form.
With the Astia online service, you can
- search and browse all the materials of the National Archives
- view digital materials
- order analogue materials to a reading room
- apply for access to restricted materials, as well as
- make information requests against a fee.
More information
Jan-Erik Engren
Chief inspector
[email protected]