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When historic institutions embrace modern technology, magical things happen. The St. Louis Public Library's Central Library stands as a magnificent example of Beaux-Arts architecture, with a history stretching back to 1912. Yet until recently, visitors often missed the subtle details and rich stories embedded in its walls, ceilings, and collections.
This case study shows how the library improved engagement by partnering with STQRY to create an interactive digital experience, especially during a major conference when their docent program was unavailable.
About St. Louis Public Library
The St. Louis Public Library's Central library is an architectural gem in the heart of Missouri. This 107-year-old landmark serves as a tourist destination, learning center, and cultural hub for the city of St. Louis.
Central library was built with the support of a substantial gift from Andrew Carnegie in 1901. Today, the St. Louis Public Library system consists of 16 branches in addition to Central, with more than four million items in its collection, 85,000 cardholders, 300 full- time staff and over two million visitors annually.
Currently, the mission of the St. Louis Public Library system is “to provide learning resources and information services that support and improve individual, family and community life through a variety of services, programs and initiatives.”
Last year, the St. Louis Downtown Chamber and Tourism Center promoted Central as a must-see destination to a conference of over 40,000 attendees. STQRY’s app allowed Central to accommodate this influx of traffic, as well as future visitors looking to explore on their own.
The Challenge
Like many other cultural destinations, Central struggles with a lack of full-time docents. With added promotion from the tourism center on top of its regular two million visitors per year, Central wasn’t fully equipped to accommodate the new traffic.
In addition to the need for docent guided tours, some visitors in today’s digital age prefer to explore independently at their own pace. Central’s staff witnessed first- hand how the smartphone revolution has changed the way people interact with public spaces. It became clear over the years that Central was in need of a mobile presence.
An app that guided users through the library was a cost effective way to maximize a visitor’s experience and create a comprehensive understanding of the building’s significance. The app would also allow Central to accommodate the influx of visitors in town for the conference with limited docents. However, the staff had little to no experience building an app.
The Solution
Cathy Heimberger, St. Louis Public Library's Director of Marketing and Programming, and Jennifer Hatton, the library's Manager of Public Relations and Digital Marketing, recognized the challenge of sharing their institution's rich history with both conference attendees and everyday visitors. They partnered with STQRY to develop a solution that would showcase the library's architectural beauty and historical significance.
When Central Library first contacted STQRY, they arrived with a clear vision for the app's functionality and content. Through detailed consultations with their dedicated Customer Success Manager, they explored the building process and refined their understanding of the optimal end-user experience.
Their STQRY representative suggested implementing beacon technology to highlight key aspects of the library's heritage. The team explained how Bluetooth-enabled beacons would trigger app notifications as visitors entered specific areas of the building. These timely alerts would direct users to informational pages detailing the narrative and background of each particular space, creating a seamless bridge between physical exploration and digital storytelling.
The implementation included several thoughtfully integrated technical components:
- Rich Multimedia Content Showcasing Library Collections
- Comprehensive General Library Information
- User-Friendly Favorites Button for Personalization
- Interactive Mapping and Wayfinding Features
- Proximity-Based Beacon Location Alerts
- Educational and Historical Resource Integration
"I personally love the beacons," said Heimberger. "When a docent is going through and giving the tour, each docent has their own little nuances that they like to highlight. The beacons allow us to bring that little touch into the technical tour."
This technology effectively preserved the personality and unique insights that traditionally came from human guides, while offering consistent information delivery and accessibility for all visitors. The beacon system ensured that casual browsers and dedicated researchers alike could access the right information at precisely the right moment.
— Cathy Heimberger, Director of Marketing and ProgrammingI personally love the beacons...When a docent is going through and giving the tour, each docent has their own little nuances that they like to highlight. The beacons allow us to bring that little touch into the technical tour.
St. Louis Public Library
Great for on-site and off-site touring, explore the rich history and architectural genius behind the Central building.
The Result
The Central team successfully launched the library’s app just before the thousands of conference visitors arrived. The app was even promoted in the conference’s official program asking visitors to download it ahead of time.
Moreover, the app became a surprisingly cost effective long-term solution when dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. After shutting down completely for months, the library is now re-opening with limited visiting hours and services. The self-guided tour in the app provides safety and security in accordance with social distancing measures while allowing visitors to experience the majesty of Central in person.
When asked about putting the app together, both Hatton and Heimberger agreed that they could not have done it without the help of their dedicated client manager, “I can't say enough about Josh. He's amazing and if it wasn't for him, I don't think we would have launched,” said Hatton.
They also praised the ease of use of the STQRY platform for people with no technical background.“It’s not something where you need to be an app developer,” Hatton explained. “You don’t need to have specific skills because STQRY provides so many different options”.
In today’s digital and socially distanced world, cultural institutions need innovative ways to open their doors and engage with visitors. STQRY’s app allowed the St. Louis Public Library to do just that while supporting their mission of improving individual, family and community life in the city.
Bring Your Library's History to Life
STQRY helps cultural institutions like the St. Louis Public Library create engaging digital tours without needing coding experience. The platform is user-friendly and comes with hands-on support to ensure your app captures your institution's essence.
Ready to engage visitors with a digital tour? Try the STQRY Builder for free and start sharing your institution’s unique stories today.