IT savvy Singaporeans today expect "instant" information to be made available via Internet. To meet the increasing demand for on-line research and to remain relevant in the Knowledge Age, National Heritage Board (NHB) as a major content provider on heritage information, needs to ride on the changing mindset and expectation and re-engineer information delivery mechanism.

The National Archives of Singapore (NAS) developed the Access to Archives Online Singapore (a2O), a one-stop portal site on heritage information dating back to 17th century. a2O allows users to seamlessly search information across NHB's various independent databases and view selected photographs, maps and plans, listen to oral history interview samplers and watch snippets of audio-visual recordings, round the clock. In addition, a2o also provides information on recently acquired materials by NAS, Online Exhibitions, how to access our archival collection as well as student programmes.

The name a²O is used as an analogy to H₂O - an essential element to live. As much as human beings need water to survive, heritage and culture is an essential part of our lives. a²O allows us to search for heritage information, which documents the on-going process of changes and reveals different facets of our history, values and identity. Our message is that "a²O" is a link between our past and present as well as a bridge to the future.

NAS won the "E-Culture" category award in the 2004 Stockholm Challenge for the implementation of a2o. The Stockholm Challenge is an annual international awards programme initiated in 1994 for projects using information technology in pioneering ways. There are six categories in total, covering areas where IT has great influence on people's lives - health, e-government, education, culture, environment and e-business. In July 2005, a2o was also nominated as the Singapore entry for best "E-Culture" content at the World Summit Award.

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