The National Library of Wales is an institution with centuries of Welsh heritage, a huge digital archive, and the challenge of serving everyone from academic researchers to curious school children, all while working in both Welsh and English.
The challenge
The Library team came to us with what seemed like a straightforward brief: migrate to a new TYPO3 system and freshen up the design based on a set of key screens. But as is often the case the complexities were in the details: maintaining integrity of existing content, integrating new functionality, all while building a seamless, bilingual user experience that also met WCAG 2.1 AAA accessibility standards.
It struck us during our initial meetings how passionate the Library staff were about making their resources accessible to everyone. They genuinely wanted a grandmother to find family records as easily as a PhD student could access ancient manuscripts.
Our approach
Getting the functionality right - Multi-factor authentication might not sound exciting, but when you're protecting precious historical documents, it matters. We also focused on front end improvements such as collapsible lists, search functionality, quick loading image galleries and many other enhancements to improve the user experience.
Accessibility - WCAG 2.1 AAA compliance isn't just about following guidelines, it's about ensuring that as many people as possible are afforded the same browsing experiences. This meant considering how we structured content, how images were described, and how navigation worked across different assistive technologies.
Content migration - Moving decades of digital content is like renovating a house while people are still living in it. We developed a migration strategy that preserved the Library's extensive archives while improving how everything was organised
Training and documentation - Although the development and editorial team were already experts in TYPO3, it was important to create detailed documentation to empower the teams to manage the website confidently.
The outcome
Launching a website of this complexity is never easy, but it’s been good to hear from the Library team how much easier their daily work has become, and how users are able to find what they are looking for more easily.
The whole online experience feels more natural. Users now enjoy a more intuitive, engaging, and accessible website, whether researching, exploring exhibitions, or accessing any of the the Library’s other vast resources.
The TYPO3 CMS we implemented means that the editorial team can update content, add new collections, and make changes without waiting for developer support.
Looking ahead, the platform gives them room to grow. Whether that's integrating with other Welsh cultural institutions, launching new digital initiatives, or adapting to whatever the next wave of digital expectations brings.
Liquid Light have been working with us on the development of our main Library website. It's been a pleasure working with them from the start. It's clear that they are experts in their field, and this feeds into the development of the project. They're always available to answer any questions or give advice and guidance, and their project management style has been open, clear and easy to work with. We are very pleased with the outcome of the project, and would be happy to recommend Liquid Light to others
Our ongoing partnership
Following the successful launch of the revamped website, we’ve entered into a long-term agreement to ensure the digital platform’s ongoing quality.
Our ongoing relationship includes:
- Keeping everything updated and secure by constantly monitoring the website
- Providing daily CMS support when the team needs help
- Regular check-ins to and reviews to suggest opportunities for improvements
The editorial team can focus on creating and curating content, while we handle the technical side and ensure the website is kept secure and up to date.
Looking ahead
For us, this isn’t just another website. This is a digital gateway to culture, history, and knowledge. Every improvement we make could help someone connect with history or discover something that changes their perspective.
The Library's digital platform will continue evolving as their needs grow and new technologies emerge. Our job is to adapt, innovate, and support the Library through every step of its digital journey for years to come.
