PhD in Technologies for Cultural Heritage - since XXXVI Cycle

Contacts

Supervisor

Maurizio Vivarelli

Phd thesis

"Library collections in transmedia and narrative perspective". The objective of the project is to develop a conceptual model for the physical and digital organization of collections in public libraries. The original aspect lies in the integration of transmedia and digital storytelling to engage users and create a new way of accessing and experiencing various media within the collections through a web and immersive interface. The research will focus on the narrative and fictional resources housed in the newly established Central Library of Turin, aiming to enhance user engagement and provide innovative guidelines for collection management.

Research activities

RESEARCH

Biography: Roberto Testa has completed his master's degree in Historical Sciences at the University of Turin in 2020. He has gained substantial experience in the field of librarianship through his work and research at the Library of the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin and the Libraries of the Renato Einaudi College in Turin. In 2023, he was a fellow at the Luigi Einaudi Foundation in Turin, where he made significant contributions to a web project dedicated to Luigi Einaudi. His research primarily focuses on the integration of digital tools within cultural institutions, such as archives and libraries.

Doctoral Thesis Research Topic: "Library collections in transmedia and narrative perspective". The objective of the project is to develop a conceptual model for the physical and digital organization of collections in public libraries. The original aspect lies in the integration of transmedia and digital storytelling to engage users and create a new way of accessing and experiencing various media within the collections through a web and immersive interface. The research will focus on the narrative and fictional resources housed in the newly established Central Library of Turin, aiming to enhance user engagement and provide innovative guidelines for collection management.

Methodology: The project involves studying library science literature, benchmarking against libraries like the BEIC in Milan, and evaluating collections for transmedia narratives. It will develop a transmedia storytelling system within the “Via delle Storie” (Street of Stories), with a web interface guiding users through books, audiobooks, movies, music, and games. A prototype AI system based on RAG technology will assist in resource recommendation and personalization. The AI will create personalized recommendation pages based on user input. User interactions with the new interface will be evaluated using social science methods to improve the system.

Outcome: Expected outcomes include an engaging interface for exploring collections, a physical organization that encourages browsing, a community through the “Via delle Storie” interface, collaborations with cultural and technological entities, and AI integration to enhance user experience. This project aims to transform public libraries into innovative, community-focused spaces.

Supervisor: Maurizio Vivarelli, Historical Studies Department.

TRAINING

PhD T4C courses (2023-2024):

• Trans-disciplinarity through the digital sciences, Coordinator Prof. Vincenzo Lombardo,
• Materiality, Coordinator Prof. Monica Gulmini
• Humans vs Geomorphological Environments: Concepts and Case studies, Coordinator Prof. Marco Giardino
• Condition assessment, analytical protocol and preservation strategies, Coordinators: Prof. Dominique Scalarone; Prof. Sergio Favero Longo
• Imaging techniques, Coordinators: Prof. Alessandro Re; Prof. Vito Messina
• Workshop: China and chinoiseries, Coordinator: Prof. Eliano Diana

Period abroad:

On-field research about transmedia and narrative libraries at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, November 2024 – April 2025.

PUBLICATIONS

• Testa, R. (2024). Storytelling e narratività: traiettorie digitali e transmediali. In S. Dinotola & A. M. Marras (Eds.), Un incontro di sguardi: Biblioteche, libri e lettura come nodi di un reticolo di possibilità creative e generative. Scritti in onore di Maurizio Vivarelli (pp. 427-434). Roma, Italy: AIB
• Dinotola, S., Testa, R. and Vivarelli, M. (2024), ‘Verso lo scaffale narrativo e transmediale’, Biblioteche Oggi, 42(5), pp. 26–36. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3302/0392-8586-202405-026-1
• Testa, R. (2021), ‘Percorsi digitali di narrazione negli archivi: il caso di 9centRo’, Biblioteche Oggi, 39 (4), pp. 30-36. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3302/0392-8586-202103-030-1
• Testa, R. (2021), ‘Models, Field and Perspectives of Digital History’. DigitCult - Scientific Journal On Digital Cultures, 5(2), 73-88. doi: https://doi.org/10.53136/979125994120638

RESEARCH OUTCOMES:

THIRD MISSION ACTIVITIES

 “Una notte in biblioteca”, EDIH – European digital innovation hub, Polo bibliotecario di Potenza (Basilicata), May 7, 2024.

“Chi vuole essere public engager?”, UNIGHT – European Researchers’ Night 2024, Giardini Reali (Torino), Semptember 28, 2024.