Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast

"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