Digitization has completely transformed the way we interact, work, and communicate. This process, driven by technological advancements, has required all analog information to gradually adapt to digital formats. This allows for quick and efficient storage, processing, and transmission through electronic devices.
Certainly, the legal world has not been isolated from this phenomenon, leading law firms to implement the adoption of these systems, which contribute to more efficient information management, facilitating searches, data storage, quick access to documents, etc.
However, this digitization has also involved the computerization of the entire legal system of the country. Thus, in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Andorra (hereinafter BOPA), we can find any type of legal text dating after 1989. However, concerning all documents predating 1989 in the BOPA, one would have to resort to either the national or parish archives to find the desired documentation. Moreover, in compliance with the first transitional provision of Law 25/2014, of October 30, of the BOPA, the Government set December 17, 2014, as the deadline from which the paper version would be dispensed with, all legal texts having to be published, officially, on its electronic headquarters www.bopa.ad.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Culture has chosen the Rosaleda Hotel to install its dependencies. This emblematic building is considered a cultural monument, – by decree of February 11, 2004- built between 1941 and 1943. At the time of its design, it was conceived as a luxury hotel; and currently, it has become the location of the Andorran National Library.
The Andorran National Library is responsible for the conservation, preservation, and dissemination of Andorran bibliographic heritage. Thus, in this institution, publications produced in Andorra as well as those related to the country or its inhabitants can be found. The National Library must also ensure that works published abroad become part of its collection, regardless of the author’s nationality, provided the authors have focused their studies or publications on the Principality.
The National Archive, created in 1975 and located in the Prada Casadet building, has as its main mission to preserve and organize Andorra’s documentary heritage to meet the needs of information and documentation for proper administrative management, facilitating the necessary information and documentation for historical research and investigation. In this sense, in the National Archive of Andorra, information related to the State Administration and other organizations and entities dependent on it can be found. In this regard, in the National Archive of Andorra, the Andorran Government Archive and the Historical Archive of Andorra can be found. With regard to the Government Archive, its purpose is to collect, retrieve, and manage all documentation generated by the political and administrative action of the Government ministries.
In contrast, the Historical Archive is responsible for retrieving all other documentation relevant to the country. It seems interesting to mention the curious case of the Andorran seven-key cabinet – formerly known as the six-key cabinet – currently located at the Casa de la Vall. Inside the mentioned cabinet, one of the most important archive collections of the country is housed; and it receives its curious name because 7 keys are required to open it, which are kept by the consuls of the seven parishes of Andorra; more than 5,500 documents can be found there; the oldest dating back to the 14th century. In 1702, this cabinet became the Council’s archive, and the names of the six parishes were recorded. However, it was not until 1978 that the name of Escaldes-Engordany, the last parish to join, was recorded. For more information about this museum, it would be necessary to consult its website: https://museus.ad/ca/monuments/casa-de-la-vall.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the Andorran postal museum, which allows for a clearer understanding of the country’s history. Historically, due to the inclement weather of the Principality, communication had to be carried out by postal correspondence. Moreover, Andorra has the particularity of not having its own postal service, which is why the Spanish and French States issue stamps with Andorran themes. The Andorran postal museum has also had to adapt to new technologies; transitioning from physical to digital format. For more information, please consult the museum’s website: https://museus.ad/ca/museus/museu-postal.