ACCESS INSPIRE Call Out

Call for technology partner – Inspire Libraries Virtual Tours

Inspire has been awarded funding to create 4 virtual tours of Beeston, Mansfield Central, West Bridgford and Worksop Libraries.

Project Outline

The project ‘Access Inspire’ will work with a partners provider to develop the 4 initial tours, enable Inspire to acquire software to produce further tours and to update the 4 initial tours. The project will include the development of 360 photography of each site, drone photography, virtual hotspots and video content, menus to aid navigation and training of Inspire team to capture 360 images. It will also add BSL, a talking head widget, accessibility widget and include a translation tool for speakers of other languages to access services.

Each tour should provide users with a highly detailed and accessible visual walkthrough of their customer journey from their point of arrival in the town (car parking / public transport/ cycle hub ), including step free access routes to entering the library building. The aim is for this project to contribute to making our services accessible, more inclusive, remove anxiety for those with needs in using their library, ensure equality of access and improve customer satisfaction overall.

The tours will be customised to each site, highlighting the range of services, stock sections, exhibitions, learning spaces, ICT facilities, toilets, lifts and refreshment facilities. Talking heads will enable the user to receive audio content about navigating the building and where to speak to library staff for advice and help. Service listings, opening hours, exhibitions, events and courses will be linked into the Inspire web site to ensure the virtual tour is a gateway to a range of online resources. The virtual tour will also be backed up by direct access to the ASK Inspire telephone help and information service.

Inspire is seeking a technology partner to work with our inhouse communications and ICT teams to develop / deploy software, photography, and skills to develop the 4 tours, enable creation of further tours in house as well as enabling updating tours. Inspire will work with the provider to create the content of each tour.