Webinar « Technology and Innovation in Library Exhibitions – Benefit or Burden? »
Webinar « Technology and Innovation in Library Exhibitions – Benefit or Burden? »
December, 10 2024 14:00 CET
BANG! the CENL Books and Audiences Network Group continues its mission to address the challenges of book exhibitions by exploring innovative, accessible, and engaging methods. Researchers, collection experts, curators, designers, educators, and other professionals whose daily work is related to library exhibitions are welcome to join!
With collections ranging from books to manuscripts and other written materials, the integration of digital technologies is revolutionizing how exhibits are showcased and experienced. This year, on December 10th the webinar will focus on the innovations and technologies currently being integrated into library exhibitions.
Key questions:
How can we balance technology with physical objects in book exhibitions?
What challenges arise in maintaining technology-rich exhibitions?
How can we understand and address the needs of visitors?
PROGRAM
KEYNOTE TALK
14.00 – 14.30
The webinar will open with a keynote talk between Dr Diana Walters (UK) – the facilitator of the webinar, consultant and project manager in the fields of museology and cultural heritage – and Benny Kerkhof (BE) the business director of the scenography agency Madoc in Ghent, Belgium. They have already released several large and small projects in Belgian museums, including at the Royal Library of Belgium. From his vision and expertise in the field, he gives us his view on the importance, or not, of technology in exhibitions, elaborating on recent trends.
CASE STUDIES
A series of case studies will introduce a diversity of approaches when it comes to library exhibitions, technology and different collections, combining theoretical and practical aspects.
14.30 –14.45 Exhibiting the Written Word in the Museum: A Research Study about Visitor Experience in Museum Plantin-Moretus – Noor de Fooz, University of Antwerp
Several collection institutions struggle with the challenge of displaying books, documents and other historical texts in a way that encourages interaction with visitors. Yet only a limited number of researchers have addressed the topic so far. Noor De Fooz (BE) recently graduated from the University of Antwerp with a master’s degree in Heritage Studies. Her thesis discussed the exhibition of books and other historical texts in museums, with a special emphasis on visitor experience. Before this, she also obtained a master’s degree in Linguistics and Literature. Noor will share her study which shows that despite researchers arguing that historical texts are difficult to access as museum objects, most visitors still actively interact with these texts in the museum in various ways.
14.45–15.00 Digital stories that connect: Lessons from Vilnius University Library – Nijolė Klingaitė-Dasevičienė, Vilnius University Library
The aim of this presentation is to present digital stories, the innovations and challenges of their creation and the opportunities that have opened up. Vilnius University Library was the first memory institution in Lithuania, which as early as in 1998 had started creating and promoting virtual exhibitions. The first virtual exhibition “Vilnius University Library Historical Collections” was released in Lithuanian, English and French and funded by UNESCO. While promoting collected unique cultural and scholarly heritage, the library has been constantly striving to work in line with the novelties of information technologies. In 2020 the first virtual exhibition was presented through the international platform Google Arts& Culture. This new experience changed our approach to the virtual display of documents – we began to perceive the exhibition as a coherent story or narrative, rather than a gallery of documents.
15.00–15.15 Recorded. Replayed. From a phonograph to a music centre. What with the audiovisual documents in libraries? – Anete Skuja, National Library of Latvia
Libraries are not just places for books; they also hold large collections of audiovisual materials, preserving and sharing many types of media. Anete Skuja, an exhibition curator at the National Library of Latvia, has worked on several projects that showcase the library’s audiovisual collection. She will present her recent exhibition, « Recorded. Replayed. From a Phonograph to a Musical Centre, » and talk about her experience with using audiovisual materials. Anete will explain how she includes both old and new audiovisual elements in exhibitions to tell engaging stories. While technology and audiovisual materials create exciting and immersive experiences, they can sometimes draw too much attention, taking the focus away from the main themes of the exhibition. Anete will discuss how to find the right balance between using technology and keeping the storytelling clear and meaningful.
15.15–15.30 Comic Art Museum Brussels – A century of Belgian Comic Art. With or without technology? – Tine Anthoni, Deputy director Comic Art Museum.
Since October 2024 the Comic Art Museum opened a brand new permanent exhibition: A Century of Belgian Comics. The exhibition celebrates the incredible story of a hundred years of comic book history, shown as you have seen it never before: in a luxurious setting full of black, white and gold. The recently renewed permanent exhibitions and a diversified programme of temporary exhibitions enable visitors to discover the countless aspects of comics art. But how much is technology involved? And which choices were made in that behalf for this new scenography. Let’s explore this together.
15.30-16.00: Interactive Q&A
We encourage national libraries to join the network and contribute to the exchange of practices and approaches, helping to create a shared perspective on modern library exhibitions and the challenges faced by libraries today.
If interested, please fill out the application form, and we will reach out to you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact: booksandaudiences@gmail.com
On May 8–9, 2025, an in-person seminar on library exhibitions and recent practices will take place at the National Library of Latvia. Stay tuned for more details!