Cloud Computing and the GLAM sector : A case study of the new Digital Archive Project of Åland Maritime Museum.

Abstract: This thesis examines the benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing technology within the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector of Sweden and Finland. It employs the case study of the recently developed and launched Digital Archive Project at Åland Maritime Museum which leveraged the Amazon Web Services (AWS) technology stack to provide a cloud-based digital platform for the museum's archival materials. The primary objective of this study is to understand the interaction, usage, and suitability of cloud computing technologies and the impact of User Experience (UX) (primary users being the GLAM professionals) on digitalization efforts. This study analyzes eight GLAM institutions in Sweden and Finland using semi-structured interviews and compares the trust and readiness of adapting to private cloud service providers. The findings reveal that Finland has a more ‘aggressive’ and experimental approach to newer technologies such as cloud computing tools, compared to Sweden. In Sweden, there is an appreciation for pleasant UX and methods to make heritage material more accessible, but there is also a lot of hesitation due to the data privacy regulations in the aftermath of the Schrems II Judgment and the invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Agreement. The study concludes that AWS as a cloud provider is difficult to incorporate in the public sector GLAM institutions compared to the private sector. The study also provides practical recommendations for GLAM institutions and professionals and calls for further interdisciplinary research with Digital Humanists at the center of it.