The State Archives ensure the long-term preservation, scientific processing and communication of the archival material. In cooperation with the Cantonal Library in Trogen, the State Archives ensure a coordinated documentary tradition of the canton. The archives of the twenty municipalities in Ausserrhoden are of great importance for the historical tradition of the canton, which has existed since 1597. The State Archives and the communal archives ensure coordinated archiving. The State Archives support the communal archives with indexing and provide information about their holdings.