Scotland’s rich cultural history including millions of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and moving images has been brought to life in a new website for National Library of Scotland.
The accessible design-led approach, which emphasised ease of navigation and discoverability, has underpinned the approach to NLS’s revamped site – unveiled this month.
Digital, data and AI specialist Storm ID, a tech consultancy based in Edinburgh, led the transformation programme for NLS, following extensive user research with communities from Orkney to the Scottish Borders.
The result is a slick new website, that is ‘welcoming and user-friendly for everyone, including those who lack experience in using libraries and archives’.
Charlotte MacRae, Head of Client Partnerships at Storm ID, said: “In July 2024, the National Library of Scotland (NLS) appointed Storm ID to partner on a full digital transformation of nls.uk. The existing site, which had been built in 2017, no longer met user needs or reflected the scale of the Library’s digital services. We were asked to design and deliver a new platform that aligned with the Library’s wider strategic objectives around improving access, engaging audiences and supporting learning, research and discovery.
“In particular, the Library wanted to make the website more welcoming and user-friendly for everyone, including those who lack experience in using libraries and archives, as well as improving the discoverability of its valuable resources by streamlining the site structure and content. The launch of the new site coincided with the Library’s Centenary in July 2025.”
The transformation included a complete redesign of the site’s structure, with a modern front-end that expressed the Library’s brand and a new content management system (CMS) to support ‘scalable publishing’. Through ongoing user research and accessibility-first design, the firm improved navigation, clarified user journeys, and ensured inclusive access to content.
Interviews and focus groups were conducted according to the Scottish Government’s Digital Scotland Service Standard (DSSS), involving families, students, film-makers, artists, local and family history hobbyists and research professionals from the length and breadth of Scotland.
The research revealed that user-friendly design, clear navigation and accessibility were crucial.
“To appeal to both new and repeat users, we had to shift our focus away from organisational structures and towards user activities,” MacRae added. “By rearranging the site structure to match user intent, tailoring content to user needs and creating a more usable design, we made the Library more accessible to all.”
She added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work on the National Library of Scotland’s digital transformation. The NLS team’s engagement made all the difference, creating a dynamic and productive working relationship. Their dedication and brilliance were consistently impressive, and the fact that we’ve done this as the organisation approaches its centenary makes it an even more memorable project.”