IASA 2017 Annual Conference

The Audio Visual Archives Department of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) appraises and acquires audiovisual records of national, historical and socio-cultural significance to Singapore, and preserves and documents such records that are transferred to the NAS by government agencies, private organisations and individuals. It also manages the prioritisation and digitisation of at-risk audiovisual formats, so as to ensure that the nation’s valuable moving images and recorded sound heritage remain accessible to future generations. Public interest in these records has grown in recent years. Now, everyone wants access to archival records anytime, anywhere – but not everyone understands the copyright barriers to open access faced by archives professionals. The presentation will show how, despite these challenges, NAS has found opportunities to extend its reach, whether through an agreement with the broadcast industry to stream programmes in public libraries, or through the release of newly-digitised pre-WWII recordings under its Sounds of Yesteryear project. It will also share NAS’s efforts to revamp its search portal, as greater access has necessitated catering for better organisation of metadata, and creating differentiated displays for both audiovisual and sound recordings. Finally, the presentation will share how, leveraging on other NAS initiatives such as the Citizen Archivist portal and Syonan Gallery, NAS has also been able to pique peoples’ interest in, crowdsource for information on, and ultimately bring its sound and audiovisual collections closer to the public.