Holovitrine Collection Wall

Exploring the Opportunity Space: The Transformation of TU Delft Library’s Collection Wall  https://www.tudelft.nl/library/collection-wall

The TU Delft Library is transforming its iconic book wall into the Collection Wall, an interactive space designed to encourage exploration and discovery. The goal is to connect the library’s physical and digital collections in a way that creates new opportunities for learning and engagement. The project brings together different disciplines, technology, and people to make knowledge more accessible and dynamic.

The project began with Alice Motta Maia Bodanzky, the project manager, who wanted to rethink the book wall to reflect not just books but also the people—students, researchers, and professors—who use them. From the start, the team worked closely with students, conducting multiple sessions to understand how they interacted with the wall. One common challenge was that students often felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. To address this, the team collaborated with a Service Design course at TU Delft, where student groups developed ideas to make the wall more approachable and interactive.

One of the early ideas was to create a digital companion that could guide users as they explored the wall. Students felt that having some form of assistance would make the experience more engaging. This led to the development of the AI Librarian, a digital assistant designed to provide recommendations and relevant information in a natural and intuitive way. The AI Librarian was integrated into a physical vitrine, giving it a subtle but noticeable presence within the Collection Wall.

The project evolved through close collaboration between library staff, faculty members, researchers, and students. Faculty members selected books for the wall to ensure they were relevant to different academic disciplines. The New Media Centre (NMC) helped develop interactive elements to bring the experience to life. Vincent Cellucci worked on scripting the AI interactions, while Mats Meerveld focused on user experience research. Mats, from Industrial Design Engineering, played a key role in shaping the interactive design. Huu Dat Nguyen, from the XR Zone, worked on transforming the interface, making sure it functioned effectively. Marieke Sjerps contributed to refining the engagement strategies and ensuring the interactive elements worked smoothly.

The project team aimed to make the experience engaging without being complicated. The core interaction was kept simple: users could scan a book to receive a short introduction and summary. A major focus was on students’ future careers, integrating a feature where scanning a book would generate insights into potential career paths based on its content. The design also included provocative book titles to spark curiosity and encourage exploration. Initial user testing showed that many students felt hesitant about talking to AI, so the team decided to prioritize scanning a book as the main action instead of requiring direct conversation. This made the experience more approachable while still leaving room for deeper interaction.

One of the biggest challenges was finding the right balance between making the system sophisticated while keeping it easy to use. Early testing showed that students preferred direct, clear interactions rather than too many choices. Sound integration also required careful adjustments to ensure an immersive effect without disrupting others in the library. Additionally, some students expressed interest in receiving more detailed information about the books, suggesting that future updates might allow for deeper engagement beyond the initial summary.

The Collection Wall is currently in its feedback and learning phase, where user experiences are being analyzed to refine and improve the system. Future developments may include reintroducing some conversational elements and expanding interactive features. The next stage of the project will incorporate 3D models to add another layer of engagement. The project will also be presented at a European Library conference, where it will be shared with a wider audience.

TU Delft’s Collection Wall is redefining how Libraries connect people with knowledge. By combining AI, interactive technology, and human expertise, it creates a space where users can explore information in new ways. The project highlights the value of collaboration, experimentation, and continuous learning. With future updates on the horizon, the Collection Wall will continue to evolve, ensuring that the library remains a place of active discovery.

Team: Alice Motta Maia Bodanzky (A.MottaMaiaBodanzky@tudelft.nl) Vincent Cellucci (V.A.Cellucci@tudelft.nl) Roland van Roijen (r.vanroijen@tudelft.nl),  Huu Dat Nguyen, Mats Meerveld, Marieke Sjerps, Steve van Her.