Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast

Microsoft's Catherine Devine and host Emily Kotecki use the themes from Season Three to imagine the future of mixed reality and the metaverse for libraries and museums. Plus, this is the end of the Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast! All episodes are available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for tuning in from around the world! 

Episode Resources

• Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/3FDNMoD 

The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport has teamed up with the Athens Olympic Museum and Microsoft to create multi-platform, multi-site immersive experiences for visitors. The exhibition 'Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds' uses mixed reality, plus a mobile and a desktop to bring the site of Ancient Olympia to life. 

Dr. Erofili Kolia, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport, and Dr. Elina Pechlivanidi from the Programs and Collections department at the Athens Olympic Museum, share their journey of creating this multifaceted experience. 

Plus, commentary from Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Episode Resources: 

• Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/3ndicHN
• Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds exhibition: https://olympiacommongrounds.gr/explore
• Microsoft In Culture: https://inculture.microsoft.com/arts/ancient-olympia-common-grounds/

Sometimes augmenting an experience doesn't mean virtual reality or immersive rooms. It can also mean using the technology that best fits the experience. In this case at the USS Midway, Mark Berlin, Director of Operations, and Jeff Danziger, North America Sales Director for Guide-ID, leverage the tried, true, and very successful audio guides aboard the ship to enhance the visitor experience. Listen to their story of audio guide hardware to mobile and back again after seeing visitors choose the device 90% of the time, and how they plan to approach other storytelling technologies.

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Episode Resources

• USS Midway Audio Tours: https://www.midway.org/visit/self-guided-audio-tours/
• Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/3zodOuu

Toby Coffey, Head of Digital Development has been pioneering immersive and technological experiences at the National Theatre in London since 2006. Most recently, his team created a mixed reality musical performance called All Kinds of Limbo. When the pandemic hit, they received grant funding and used the opportunity to democratize access to the show by creating ways for audiences to experience it on three different platforms. Join this conversation as we take a step outside museums and libraries, into the theater world and into new ways of leveraging immersive technologies. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Episode Resources: 

• Get tickets to All Kinds of Limbo: https://bit.ly/3rLLPD5 
• Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/3oPBwfo

A visitor walks into a 13th century Italian castle and UNESCO Heritage site. The walls are bare. They poke around for a few seconds then walk out. 

That was then. 

Now, with a new mixed reality experience developed by Hevolus, Infratel, and Microsoft, Castel del Monte has become a HoloMuseum. Visitors can engage with various augmented reality experiences to add layers of information and detail about the castle. 

Antonio Squeo, Chief Information of Hevolus, shares the details of this experience and the role that the 'phygital' museum will play in the future of cultural experiences. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Episode resources

• Castel del Monte: https://bit.ly/3lIdtNR
• Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/31xPUA7

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles was one of the first public locations for visitors to use a HoloLens headset in 2015. Since then, they've continued to use mixed reality to drive attendance and enhance the visitor experience. Michael Bodell, Chief Operating Officer at the Petersen shares their journey as well as what technology they're experimenting with now to better 'future-proof' their museum.

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Episode resources: 

• XR at the Petersen: https://bit.ly/3IeSsE7
• Interview transcript: https://bit.ly/2ZxPIzV

"Museums create that bridge to humanity. So the more we learn about their collections and the stories, the more that we can learn about ourselves and each other." 

Ryan Gaspar is Director of Strategic Partnerships at Microsoft. Part of his role includes working with museums to create mixed reality experiences that enhances the visitor experience. In this conversation we talk about the importance of the branded museum in today's experience economy and how to authentically create engaging content for visitors. 

Plus, commentary from Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Full transcript: https://bit.ly/3nWCmoX

"Anyone who has read Andersen's fairytales knows that Andersen fairytales is not about ending up with facts. It's about ending up with a sense of wonderment and it's about the play that goes on...so we wanted to create a place that that was much more telling the story like Andersen."

The Hans Christian Andersen House in Odense, Denmark, just reopened over a five year renovation. In addition to creating a space that reflects the playful nature of fairytales, the museum has also created a Minecraft world for students based on the story of Thumbelina. In this episode, Henrik Lubker, Creative Director, Mette Videl Kiilerich, Curator of Education, and Adam Clarke, Minecraft mapmaker and consultant, share their process for creating the experience. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Interview transcript: https://bit.ly/3GG1kl3

Season three of the Microsoft Libraries and Museums podcast will share stories from around the world of how institutions are experimenting and innovating with mixed reality. 

As a field, we are continually pioneering new ways to make and strengthen those connections. With the power of augmented and virtual reality; immersive spaces and 360 video, we are elevating what a visitor experience can be and where it can happen.

Join us this season as we explore new worlds, new realities, and new futures.

Hosted by Emily Kotecki and produced by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Full episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3jfsGEC

"It took a crisis - doesn't always need to take the crisis - but it took a crisis to for museums and libraries to realize they can really reach large audiences...be creative and...[achieve] more of the mission of the organization." 

Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at Microsoft, reflects on the  trends and ideas that emerged in season two. 

Full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/373XrG8

"There are a number of ways that libraries are integrating technologies to optimize the user experience, reduce costs, and make buildings more energy efficient." 

While the opportunities and benefits of adopting smart building technology are plentiful, libraries and museums are still nascent in this aspect of digital transformation. Janice Kung, Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, shares a prototype she created around monitoring noise levels and a vision for the future.

Plus, commentary by Catherine Devine. 

Read the full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/2UvkuqJ

Machine learning "allows us to tell richer stories with our collection because cognitive services can find patterns and can do things with a collection that would be time prohibited for a human being to do."

Dave Evans, Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technology at the Computer History Museum, is leveraging machine learning to enrich how his museum shares its collection. Evans demystifies the technology, shares how any cultural organization can be begin adopting it, and what the broader, exciting implications would be if GLAM sector began using machine learning to unearth their collections.

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine.  

Read the full interview transcript here: https://bit.ly/2T5cXy2

"We all decided we were going to harness this moment to see how we could make it into an opportunity to think differently about our practice."

Dr. Helen Charman, Director of Learning and National Programs at the Victoria and Albert Museum, focused on creativity in a crisis. When COVID-19 hit, her team transformed how they reached audiences beyond the walls of the museum. The result has been so successful it's changed the way they work moving forward. 

Listen to their story plus commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Full interview transcript available here: https://bit.ly/3hZ87en

"If we're talking about the Great Data Transformation of museums in 2020 and beyond, what we're talking about is this change in a more contemporary leadership style, which has more data, less process, and more empowerment for our teams."

Angie Judge, CEO of Dexibit, explains what she sees as the Great Data Transformation of the cultural sector to ensure a more agile and empowered future. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Read the full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/3hmbvjb

"How do you pivot on a dime in today's world when the technology has locked you into  silos, so you can't get the data out around it?"

Neal Bilow, CEO and Founder of Terentia, sees a new future for collections and digital asset management systems that moves away from bespoke development, leverages data, and drives audience engagement. 

Plus, commentary by Catherine Devine. 

Read the full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/3qhKDVm

"Ticketing and fundraising pay for digital transformation. They are the revenue engine which provides the platform of  funding for everything else that you want to do."

Erin Lively Koppel, Chief Strategy Officer at Tessitura Network, reflects on the changing landscape of ticketing and fundraising as a result of the pandemic. She also shares how libraries and museums can adapt to these changes and prepare for a new financial future.  

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Read the full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/3wByugv

"What's the most flexible and scalable way that we can expose our collections to the world?" 

Before Jen Looper studied computer language, she received her PhD in Medieval French literature. And while she may have jumped from French to JavaScript, she has always remained interested in supporting arts and culture through tech. Jen is the Cloud Advocate Lead at Microsoft and shares her vision for how cloud can support increasing access to more collections around the world. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine.

Read the full interview transcript here: https://bit.ly/3iujm04

"Minecraft, isn't a field of dreams. If you build it, they won't necessarily come.  You've got to think about who your audience is, where they are, and how to reach them in a meaningful, authentic way."

Adam Clarke, Minecraft map maker, producer, and consultant has co-created Minecraft worlds for libraries and museums. In this episode he shares how to leverage gaming into authentic audience engagement experiences.

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. 

Link to full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/2SP7hbd

"When you're looking at digital equivalency, we're looking at experience design. It's somewhat of an alchemy."

In each episode of season two, we are doing a deep dive into the different aspects of digital transformation. Today's episode focuses on Digital Equivalency, which is the ability to offer equivalent experiences in physical and digital spaces. Michael Gonzalez, the University Librarian, and Daniel Hamilton, the Communications Manager, at the University Technology Sydney, in Australia share their multi-year process in implementing digital equivalency throughout the library. 

Plus, commentary by Microsoft's Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums.

Link to full interview transcript: https://bit.ly/3vmezS6

Welcome to Season Two of the Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast! This season we will be doing deep dives into different aspects of digital transformation in libraries and museums.

We’ll hear from libraries, museums, and industry partners about pieces of the digital transformation puzzle. Tune in every Monday for new interviews plus commentary by Microsoft’s Catherine Devine.

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/3tT94c5

After nine interviews with guests from eight countries and four continents, this is the final episode of Season One! Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at Microsoft, reflects on the big ideas that emerged throughout the conversations. You usually hear her at the end of each episode, but as this is our last episode of the season, we’re bringing her to the forefront. 

This episode was originally recorded for the MuseumNext virtual conference in February 2021 and edited for this space.

The National Library of Latvia has been digitally transforming itself since the early 2000's, but like any institution transformation can start and stop.They began by digitizing collection. In 2014, after 25 years, they opened a brand new library building, where digital efforts got put on hold. But in the last few years and with the urgency of COVID, they’ve reinvested in digital. Currently, they are reimagining what it means to be both a physical and digital access point for cultural heritage. Listen to our interview with Anda Baklāne, Head of Digital Research Services, as she shares their journey. 

Plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at the end of the episode.

Read the full transcript: https://bit.ly/3bwED4n

Barbara Makuati-Afitu and Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai are the co-founders of Lagi-Maama in New Zealand. Barbara and Kolokesa work with museums to transform how they elevate and center indigenous voices. When COVID hit, the duo had to quickly switch their approach and use digital in a way they had never done before - but the relationships they had formed with their communities supported that pivot.

Listen to our conversation, plus commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at Microsoft. 

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/2YZZS8B

Patricia Buffa is the Director of Digital Strategy at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Buffa is kickstarting digital transformation at her institution with a people-first approach - whether they’re colleagues or visitors. It’s “about workshopping and listening and understanding what people are trying to do so [while] technology is a tool, it needs to be really seamless for people to actually want to embrace it and use it.”

Listen to our conversation, plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at the end of the episode.

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/3oK8uLe

Tricia Golden and Kim Smit, of the National Gallery of Ireland, are at the beginning of transforming their museum. Like many museums and libraries across the globe, COVID-19 spurred their hard pivot to digital. In this conversation Golden and Smit, Director of Corporate Services and Head of Collections and Research, respectively, share how they are working together to build the foundation for their digital future.

Plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at the end of the episode.

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/39Z7GNa

Saskia Scheltjens has been spearheading change her whole career. When she took a new position, as Head of Research Services, at the Rijksmuseum in 2016 to unify multiple departments into one cohesive division, she was ready for the challenge.  The department is dedicated to digitizing and opening the collections from both the museum and library - which results in a mind boggling amount of data.

Listen to our conversation to hear how she got staff on board with the changes (which were 18 years in the making!)  and stays sane in the midst of all the data.  

Plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at the end of the episode.

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/3nZilfs

Kevin Lim, Deputy Director for Innovation at the National Gallery Singapore, has been at the museum since it opened in 2015. Since then he has opened two incubator spaces that operate like start-ups within the museum. These innovation labs experiment with technology around visitor services and audience engagement. Lim also works closely with the tech sector to bring in new sources of funding and interest to the art world.

Listen to our conversation, plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at the end of the episode.

Link to full transcript: https://bit.ly/3sj7SiA

Kurt De Belder has been leading the University of Leiden library for 15 years, overseeing a huge expansion of their open access policy, social media operations, and international collaborations. As University Librarian and Director of Leiden University Libraries & Leiden University Press, de Belder has continually innovated in how information is accessed and shared. He has experience working in libraries on both sides of the Atlantic and shares that perspective in this interview. 

Listen to our conversation, plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at Microsoft.

Link to the full transcript: https://bit.ly/35wXji5

When the doors of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights opened in 2014, Scott Gillam and his team created a museum experience infused with digital. However, they went beyond tech for tech’s sake and have prioritized creating experiences that are inclusive and accessible.  This has included universal key pads, 3D photographs, immersive technology,  gesture-based technology, and more. Gillam, Manager of Digital Platforms, and his team see inclusive design as a vehicle to tell stories and elevate the experience for everyone.

Listen to our conversation to hear how they evolve with technology, plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums.

Link to the full transcript: https://bit.ly/3oCky1v

Merete Sanderhoff arrived at the Statens Museum for Kunst, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2007 with the charge of “doing something digital with the collection.” Since then, she has tinkered, toyed, expanded, and solidified the role digital plays at her museum. As Curator and Senior Advisor of Digital Museum Practice, Sanderhoff has overseen the digitization of 50,000+ artworks, the creation of numerous apps and interactive, as well as the use of artificial intelligence. She also started her own conference dedicated to inspiring others to digitize cultural heritage.

Listen to our conversation, plus, commentary by Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader for Libraries and Museums at Microsoft.

Link to the full transcript: https://bit.ly/3oEJaa1

Welcome to the new Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast! This show is dedicated to exploring the journey of digital transformation in museums and libraries from around the world. These interviews will explore emerging trends and common pitfalls, as well as revealing critical truths about digital change. The show is hosted by Emily Kotecki and produced by Microsoft's Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader – Libraries and Museums.

The first full episode launches December 14. New interviews will be posted every Monday and can be found wherever you listen to your podcasts.