National Library of New Zealand, He Tohu Permanent Exhibition
Have you ever wondered how centuries of cultural heritage can be made accessible to everyone, regardless of language or ability? In today's digital age, institutions tasked with preserving our collective history face the challenge of making their collections not just preserved, but genuinely accessible to diverse audiences.
About the National Library of New Zealand
The National Library of New Zealand houses stories about the history, culture, and people of New Zealand. Their three tiered mission is to collect, connect, and co-create knowledge to power New Zealand.
The collection includes the Alexander Turnbull Collection, the National Children’s Book Collection, and copies of every published book in Aotearoa history. Their He Tohu exhibition gives permanent home to the three constitutional documents that shaped New Zealand nation: He Whakaputanga (The Independence Declaration of 1835), Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840) and the Women’s Suffrage Petition (1893).
By preserving and protecting these collections, and making them as accessible to the public as possible, The National Library of New Zealand fulfills its mission: He whakapapa kōrero, he whenua kura (talking about the past to create a better future for Aotearoa).
In alignment with this mission, the team at The National Library of New Zealand wanted to offer their collection in multiple languages and sign language, integrating elements of audio and video storytelling to bring these stories and people to life in new ways. They enlisted the help of the STQRY platform to realize this goal.
The Challenge
Lucy Shand, Partnerships Coordinator for The National Library of New Zealand, described the challenge they were trying to overcome by using the STQRY platform. “Our original goal was to appeal to international visitors as planning began pre-pandemic,” said Shand. “We wanted to create an interactive and engaging experience that visitors can engage with independently in their own time.”
This second element became particularly important during the pandemic. They were set to approach these challenges by creating audiovisual elements based on the collection itself, creating an innovative illustration of the collection.
“Due to the different challenges presented by audio versus visual, particularly when considering accessibility requirements, it was uncertain whether the two types of guides would be compatible in the same format on the same device,” she said.
“Fortunately, this was made possible by the STQRY platform and we found a common ground between both sets of requirements that works seamlessly from a user experience perspective.”
The storytelling and accessibility challenges were easily mitigated by the STQRY platform, but the team also faced barriers in regard to security. “As a government agency we have specific processes and security requirements that meant it took a little longer to get everything together,” said Shand.
The Solution
The STQRY platform provided the robust foundation the Library needed. The team tackled security concerns head-on, with STQRY helping to "source the hardware and work with us on loading the software onto the devices," according to Shand.
But the real magic happened on the accessibility front. The Library leveraged STQRY's platform to create an app available in six different languages:
- English
- Te Reo Māori
- Mandarin
- Portuguese
- French
- German
Most importantly, they included New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) – recognizing it as an official language of New Zealand and boosting accessibility to the stories of He Tohu.
"In conjunction with the project, members of the Public Engagement team undertook Deaf awareness training and introductory NZSL," Shand explains, demonstrating the Library's commitment to genuine inclusion.
The team collaborated with NZSL4U to co-design the sign language elements of the audio app. "Working with NZSL4U, Story Inc and STQRY, we were able to come to fit-for-purpose solutions which culminated in a really intuitive and compelling storytelling experience," she says.
An unexpected benefit emerged during the pandemic: "Having the devices has been a great alternative to in-person tours, allowing people to remain safely socially distanced in the Library space whilst still engaging with our stories."
— Lucy Shand, Partnerships Coordinator, The National Library of New ZealandFortunately, this was made possible by the STQRY platform and we found a common ground between both sets of requirements that works seamlessly from a user experience perspective.
The Result
The impact of this technological innovation has been profound. User feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, both in terms of the app's usability and its effectiveness in bringing New Zealand's history to life.
"The app has been easy to use and intuitive and the stories told have been well received," Shand shares. "We collect voluntary testimonials plus those of staff members who have used the Guides, all of which have been really enthusiastic and positive."
The Library team also appreciated the streamlined process of working with the STQRY platform and team. "The STQRY platform has been really easy to use and the team have been great to work with," notes Shand.
By embracing digital innovation while staying true to their mission of preservation and education, The National Library of New Zealand has created a bridge between centuries of history and today's diverse audiences. Visitors from around the world can now connect with New Zealand's cultural heritage in their preferred language, and those with different abilities can access the same rich content.
Ready to Transform Your Cultural Experience?
If you're wondering whether the STQRY Builder could help your institution create more accessible, engaging experiences for your audience, this case study demonstrates its potential. From multilingual support to accessibility features, STQRY provides the tools needed to bring collections to life for everyone.
Discover how STQRY can help with your projects by contacting us today.