Building bridges to a culture accessible for all: integrating easy-to-read into virtual exhibitions

Abstract

Technological advances have permeated all spheres of our daily lives, and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) institutions have not been an exception. These institutions have evolved towards a greater concern for communication with their users, especially through virtual exhibitions. However, the creation of these digital spaces also requires ensuring accessibility for all users. A valuable tool that can facilitate the understanding of the information included is its availability in easy-to-read, which creates a fully accessible environment for anyone interested, including those with disabilities, difficulties in reading comprehension, or limited proficiency in the language. In light of this, the current study proposes an initiative carried out within the framework of the Cultural and bibliographic heritage in the context of GLAM (Libraries, Archives and Museums) Project, in collaboration with the IDEA Lab Research Group of Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). This initiative involves the creation of a virtual room housing part of the library collection of the Library of the National archaeological museum in Spain. Each item within this collection is accompanied by a label translated into easy-to-read. This paper outlines the adaptation process of the exhibition’s written content and details the creation of the virtual exhibition within the context of the third edition of “Built with Bits”. The study’s findings suggest that the implementation of easy-to-read in virtual exhibitions can markedly enhance accessibility and inclusion, enabling a more diverse audience to engage with, appreciate, and comprehend bibliographic heritage.

Keywords

• virtual exhibitions
• accessibility
• GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) institutions