Exhibitions as an empowering act in the digital transition – libraries and librarians role as knowledge producers and curators

Abstract

Digital practices are intertwined in everything we do, although in a society where the citizens are faced with fake news and alternative facts in the media - social as well as traditional - demands are placed on new abilities to debunk myths and pseudoscience. Through the project The Researchers Gallery we, at Malmö University Library, explored the question of how we can address the ways digitalization is transforming behaviours in processing information and knowledge. The essence of the project was the development of a model to co-produce exhibitions with researchers at the University. The co-production was central in empowering librarians involved as well as visitors in their information literacies and understanding of knowledge and facts. In order to document the processes and disseminate the experiences and new knowledge to others, the project group developed a web-based five-step model for sustainable exhibition production. The project is now completed and the activities in The Researchers Gallery continue as part of Malmö University Library’s regular repertoire. In order to develop the Researchers Gallery, and in particular deepen the connection to information literacies needed in a digital setting, we are aiming at creating a digital representation of the exhibitions with interactive components. When it comes to professional development and new competencies discovered through the project, the next step is to start a network for Swedish libraries that want to explore the role of the librarian-curator and communicate research through exhibitions. This paper will present The Researchers Gallery further as well as the project that launched it.