An Irish library is trying a new sort of library tour. From siliconrepublic.com: Library turns over new leaf.
Famed for providing a window on to the world of historical art and literature, the Chester Beatty Library (CBL) last week embraced the future when it officially launched a new multimedia tour on handheld computers aimed at the enhancing the experience of the thousands of visitors that pass through its doors every year.
The CBL is an art museum and library housing the collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The library is housed within a restored 18th Century building within Dublin Castle.
The idea of converting the library's artefacts into a multimedia tour that visitors could enjoy was first mooted four years ago, according to library director Michael Ryan. "Our IT manager [Stephen Farrell] was planning to install a wireless network throughout the building when he came up with the idea of offering visitors tours on Wi-Fi-enabled PDAs. It was a pioneering idea at the time although some international museums are starting to offer such tours now." [continue]
(Link found here at Rare Book News.)
The Chester Beatty Library website has some interesting content, by the way. Want to have a look at their image gallery?
Posted on June 29, 2005 09:34 PM. Filed under: books & lit.