Remember when searching through local history collections meant struggling with clunky websites that seemed stuck in the early 2000s? That was exactly the challenge facing Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services with their outdated online collections platform.
The Digital Dilemma
Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services wanted to replace their existing online collections site with a more modern alternative. Their existing platform had several issues including not being able to link to individual items, not mobile friendly, hard to use, not open to community engagement and not being indexed by Google.
Beyond these technical limitations, the platform offered no opportunities for community engagement. In an era where public participation enriches cultural institutions, their collections site remained a one-way street.
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The STQRY Collect Solution
After evaluating their options, Palmerston North Libraries partnered with STQRY to implement their specialized STQRY Collect platform—a digital solution designed specifically for cultural and historical collections.
STQRY Collect addressed the library's challenges with modern functionality:
- Mobile-first design ensuring collections look fantastic on any device
- Persistent individual URLs for every item, making sharing and bookmarking seamless
- Search engine optimization bringing collections into Google's index and increasing discoverability
- Community engagement tools allowing visitors to contribute stories, information, and context
- Intuitive navigation designed around how people actually search for and explore collections
Transforming Digital Access
The implementation of STQRY Collect revolutionized how Palmerston North's collections connected with their community. Visitor numbers increased substantially, with people spending more time exploring the digital artifacts than ever before.
For library staff, the platform simplified management processes while expanding capabilities. The intuitive backend allowed them to focus on curating and expanding the collections rather than wrestling with technical limitations.
Start Building Meaningful Digital Collections with STQRY
Palmerston North Libraries show how the right platform can turn static archives into dynamic, accessible online collections that serve the whole community. By using STQRY Collect, they’ve made their heritage more discoverable, more engaging, and more impactful.
Ready to do the same? With STQRY Collect, you can preserve your collections, streamline your workflow, and open up access to the stories that matter—no tech team required.