Downloadable Audio Walking Tours of Lexington, Ky.
Lexington Public Library, Ky.
Innovation Synopsis
Walking tours are popular programs, but issues with timing, weather and limited spots make them less accessible to customers. To make the content of walking tours more accessible to our community, we created downloadable, self-guided audio walking tours of Downtown Lexington. Each tour starts at the Central Library of Lexington Public Library.
Challenge/Opportunity
After the success of our local history podcast, we wanted to complement the digital format and encourage community engagement and health. The downloadable format allows us to reach greater audiences than with traditional programming and engage with an increasing demographic who only use the library’s digital resources. Our library has offered popular traditional walking tours for years, but no other local organization has designed anything digital. This allowed us to create uniquely interactive content for our city.
Key Elements of Innovation
The tours are designed to be half-hour- to hour-long experiences. Audio is streamed or downloaded from the library’s website and multiple apps, using smartphones, tablets or transfer to an MP3 player. It can be experienced as a whole or for individual stops, with jaunty pause music to help with stop transitions. Printable maps are available on our website, and brochures with maps and stops are available at libraries and the city visitor center. The only requirement for download is a mobile media player.
Achieved Outcomes
For residents and visitors, the walking tours give a convenient, free experience celebrating local people, places and events. The library is designing more subject-specific content not generally offered for walking tour topics, as well as creating walking and driving tours for other areas of the town and county. Our library sees this as an opportunity to meet our community where it is, and encourage education, interaction and health.
