The project

The Transmedia Library Shelf Experience project is promoted by the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Turin and is being carried out by a research team comprising Sara Dinotola and Roberto Testa. Assuming that collections and reading experiences are central to the multidimensional identity of contemporary libraries, the project aims to conceptualise and prototype a new type of shelf, defined as narrative and transmedia.

This involves:

• The spatial organisation of collections based on clearly recognisable thematic universes;

• The use of clear and accessible signage;

• The choice of collocation systems that are easily understood;

• The adoption of effective display strategies to arrange a good number of books with visible covers on which to place QR codes that allow access to different types of online content, such as reviews (text and video) that are either already available or produced directly by the library in collaboration with its audience, or interviews with authors and book presentations.

• Inclusion of highly evocative images and quotes, as well as QR codes linking to relevant content such as music playlists, podcasts and videos, on the shelf and/or next to it.

• The use of clear and accessible signage; 

• The choice of collocation systems that are easily understood by people; 

• The adoption of display strategies, planning to arrange a good number of books with visible covers, with QR codes that allow access to different types of online content, such as reviews (text and video) already available or produced directly by the library in collaboration with its audience, interviews with authors or book presentations;

• The inclusion on the shelf and/or next to it of highly evocative images and quotes, but also QR codes that link to selected content (such as music playlists, podcasts and videos) relevant to the shelf's theme;

• Digital pathways based on semantic connections between resources on the shelves (books and other physical media such as DVDs and CDs), electronic resources subscribed to by libraries, and online content (textual, audio and audiovisual). Navigation within these paths is made possible by special interactive graphs, which are accessible via large touch screens that are placed inside and/or on the sides of the shelves.

• Other integrated digital interfaces allow access to more traditional collection mediation tools, starting with the library catalogue (e.g., an AI-based virtual assistant that has been specially trained).

The narrative and transmedia shelves are intended to facilitate encounters between readers and documentary offerings, and to enable stimulating and emotionally engaging experiences during exploratory research in the library.

The website features interactive graphs developed using Kumu, a web-based platform for data visualisation.