The National Library of Sweden – explore the library on your own

Kungliga biblioteket (KB) is the National Library of Sweden, located in the Humlegården park in central Stockholm. The library collects and preserves all printed material published in Sweden since 1661. KB is also a popular attraction, and with the app visitors can take guided tours and make virtual visits to the underground stacks.

Challenge

Kungliga biblioteket holds a copy of everything printed and published in Sweden since 1661. KB is primarily there for everyone who studies its material, but the collections are open to all, and the library is also a magnificent building with classic and modern architecture, design and art.

Hundreds of Swedish and international tourists come every day to the grand 19th-century building in Humlegården, in the heart of Stockholm, to look at and learn more about the art and architecture. The Treasury, home to the enormous Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible, is an attraction in itself. And on the entrance floor, an exhibition tells the story of KB's unique role as the national library and of the library's history.

KB rarely offers guided tours, but as long as visitors show consideration for everyone studying and working there, they are free to explore the library on their own. To make it easier for visitors to find their way around and to make KB's architecture, art and history accessible, KB wanted to create a guide app.

They also wanted the app to give easy access to KB's website for virtual visits to the underground stacks and the room of Nelly Sachs, the German-Swedish poet and Nobel laureate.

As Kungliga biblioteket is a government agency, it was essential that the app met strict data security requirements.

Solution

We made a native app for KB, adapted to their visual identity. For the soft launch of the first version in June 2023, KB produced a main guide – Your guide to the National Library – in Swedish and English.

The guide takes visitors on a tour of the library. The stops have images and texts telling the story of KB's history, architecture and art. Among other things, visitors learn more about the architect who designed KB, visit the Treasury where the enormous Codex Gigas – the Devil's Bible – is kept, and make virtual visits to the underground stacks. Two more virtual tours offer a visit to the Nelly Sachs room in the stacks and a tour of the reading rooms.

The floor plan in KB's printed leaflet was adapted for the app, and key points such as reading rooms, lifts, toilets and the café got info pins on the map.