Accessibility of cultural heritage has become a central challenge in the digital age, and the SHIFT MetamorphoSis of cultural Heritage Into augmented hypermedia assets For enhanced accessibiliTy and inclusion project, funded under the Horizon 2021-2027 programme, offers an innovative solution by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the processes of transforming digital content. This article explores the impact of SHIFT’s AI-based technological solutions on digital story collections created by library users, highlighting their contribution to the social inclusion of vulnerable people [1]. By using speech synthesis technologies (Text-To-Speech - TTS), style transfer, semantic analysis and automatic summarization, SHIFT offers a new dimension to cultural narratives. Thus, libraries become the keepers of an invaluable intangible heritage, while facilitating the integration of disadvantaged categories as full beneficiaries of library services. This article explores in particular how visually impaired people can have easier and more personalized access to a creative portfolio represented by a large collection of digital stories, which would otherwise remain inaccessible to them [2].

The analysis is supported by the example of the "Cultural Agora @ Your Library" project, carried out by the National Association of Public Librarians and Libraries in Romania (ANBPR), which generated over 1600 digital stories aimed at promoting cultural diversity and interethnic dialogue. By collaborating with technical partners in the SHIFT consortium, these stories are transformed into accessible audio-video narratives, having a greater emotional impact. The study highlights the benefits of Digital Storytelling technology, demonstrating that AI can act as an enabler of inclusion, offering vulnerable users expanded opportunities to interact with cultural heritage in libraries and museums [3].

Integrating AI tools into library and museum services can generate new models of interaction with the public, building user loyalty through personalized, accessible and engaging experiences. In the long term, the implementation of these solutions has the potential to redefine the role of libraries in society, transforming them into inclusive digital hubs, capable of providing cultural resources adapted to the diverse needs of communities [4].

References:
[1] Bai, Z., & Blackwell, A. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and Digital Storytelling: A New Era of Cultural Narratives. Cambridge University Press.
[2] Hancox, D. (2022). The Future of Digital Storytelling: AI, Ethics, and Accessibility. Routledge.
[3] Salvador, P., & Panagiotis, P. (2021). "Inclusion through AI: Text-to-Speech and Automated Translation in Cultural Heritage." Journal of Digital Humanities, 10(2), 45-61.
[4] Wang, Y., & He, J. (2020). "Multimodal AI in Digital Storytelling: Opportunities for Vulnerable Populations." International Journal of Cultural Heritage Studies, 8(3), 29-47.

Keywords: Digital Storytelling, Cultural Narratives, Text-To-Speech, Style Transfer, Semantic Analysis, Automatic Summarization, SHIFT Horizon Project.