We have a Kodak slide scanner which also circulates and that has been used yearly since we purchased it. It is fine enough. Not my favorite item, but the price is right and it does the job. Patrons have used it with few questions.

There is also a Tape cassette player which saves to USB. I purchased it off of Amazon to meet a patron's need. It worked, but I would recommend getting a dedicated cassette player and using the Clearclick 3.0. It would be much easier. Walmart has the Onn brand which still makes a cd/cassette player with Aux jack.

I have been asked a few times for a device or software to take contents off of a DVD (pictures, family videos, not feature films). We have a USB-bluray player we connect to the computer which has met the needs of the moment, but it doesn't circulate. No one has asked for at-home use. This has also been useful for when patrons receive medical information on discs from their doctors.

We have the Envisionware Library Document Station which has a flatbed for scanning books and a feeder scanner which does double-sided documents. I have only seen the flatbed used once for a family digitization project. The family scanned each page of a family-made genealogy book. I have seen some individuals scan photos on the flatbed. This does not circulate. This device is in use most of the day as it scans, emails, and faxes.

I would like to circulate a Xerox Documate scanner 6440 (or similar) for scanning photos at home. It scans various size documents in good quality really fast. Ideally, it would be part of a kit which would include ideas about hosting a photo digitization party, how to use the machine and information to turn the physical photos into books and gifts. I have not gotten to creating this kit so I couldn't tell you how it circulates.

What I haven't found is a solution for the odd media-types from Camcorders (mini DV tapes and the sort) that I like. Once circulating the VCRs, you may get questions about these formats. For some of the formats, it isn't as easy as getting a VHS-C to VHS Cassette Adapter. You have to have the corresponding camcorder. 

I can definitely say the endeavor has been worthwhile. I just checked my circ statistics on the VCRs. One unit is at sixteen circulations this year and the other unit is at nineteen with a holds list. They checkout for two weeks at a time. If the library does a social media post on Facebook advertising the VCR / Clearclick combo, there will be questions and visitors for it.

I can also say the Guild of Library Makers are some terrific professionals. If you have any questions along the way, they are an excellent resource.

Best of luck!

Brandon

Howardb@Libcoop.net
Technology Librarian

Shelby Township Library