The Challenge
The Chester Beatty Library had no online presence and had never developed any interactive software presentations when X Communications won the contract to develop a web site for this unique and famous cultural institution in 1998.
The collections in the Chester Beatty Library lend themselves to digitisation and interactive software presentations. X Communications had to gain the confidence of the Library curators and staff in order to introduce digital media technologies into the library exhibitions and to use the Internet to promote the Library to a wider audience.
The Solution
X Communications first developed the Chester Beatty Library web site in 1998. This site has been added to over time and includes a rich database of images from the Library’s collection. The new www.cbl.ie web site, launched in March 2007, has been developed on a Content Management platform to allow the Library’s staff to update the web site regularly.
In 1998, X Communications designed and developed a CD-ROM on The Chogonka Schroll and this is available in the Library today as an interactive presentation beside the display case containing the original scrolls. The Chogonka Scroll CD-ROM won an ICAD award in 2003 and is still available for sale in The Library’s shop.
When X Communications first began working with the Library, they were located in Shrewsbury Road Ballsbridge. After their successful move to Dublin Castle and the opening of their new exhibition spaces, X Communications worked with Event Communications on the development of interactive presentations which were part of the opening exhibition in 2002 –the Library won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2002.
We continue to enjoy a unique and wonderful working relationship with the Chester Beatty Library and we are currently developing interactive presentations for the forthcoming Leonardo Da Vinci Codex Leicester exhibition which will open in June 2007.
The Result
The Chester Beatty Library is a unique cultural institution – it is both an art museum and library. It houses an outstanding collection of Islamic manuscripts, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and other Oriental art. We look forward to working with the Library in the future on exciting and innovative digital media projects that will present their collections to a wider audience using different digital media platforms.
image gallery