Digital Conversion Center/Memory Lab
Hello! Our library is looking into the possibility of purchasing equipment to create a digital conversion center within our library for people to come in and digitize old photos, slides, tapes, etc. For libraries that already have this setup in place, what equipment do you recommend that works well and is easy to use? Open to any suggestions and tips for creating a space like this! Enjoy the holiday season! Thanks, Nicole Nicole Johnson Librarian Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library 906-486-4381
I would also be interested in what other libraries have done. Jill Rauh, Public Services Librarian Benton Harbor Public Library 213 E. Wall St. Benton Harbor, MI 49022 269-926-6139 www.bentonharborlibrary.com The information and views presented do not necessarily represent those of the Benton Harbor Public Library. On Friday, December 19, 2025 at 02:24:12 PM EST, Nicole Johnson via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote: #yiv2399205356 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Hello! Our library is looking into the possibility of purchasing equipment to create a digital conversion center within our library for people to come in and digitize old photos, slides, tapes, etc. For libraries that already have this setup in place, what equipment do you recommend that works well and is easy to use? Open to any suggestions and tips for creating a space like this! Enjoy the holiday season! Thanks,Nicole Nicole JohnsonLibrarianIshpeming Carnegie Public Library906-486-4381_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org
Hey all, My name is Matt and I'm part of a professional organization for library MKerspace staff called the Guild of Library Makers. We have a discord where we answer questions like this in real time from maker professionals all over the state. If you want to check it out, go to: https://discord.gg/9vRYyXKPrf In the meantime, we use clear click generation 3.0. At RHPL, we also do the conversion for our patrons as most vintage recording only works in real time (a 2 hour video takes 2 hours to record). We limit each patron to 10 pieces of media at a time and then when they are done, they can get back on the list. Please feel free to followup with any questions here, on the discord, or to my email: matt.grayvin@rhpl.org. Take care!
Shelby Township Library is a suburb north of Detroit. We do not have a dedicated conversion lab. Instead, all of our devices circulate. Our hottest items are VCRs and Clearclick 3.0 convertors. I wanted to have patrons be able to go through their collection of tapes in the comfort of their own home. Some of those memories can bring back some heavy emotions. The VCRs are rarely on the shelf. I do check the machine each time it is returned to make sure it is in good condition. I can't say enough good things about the Clearclick 3.0. It saves to a USB drive and works with anything that takes a RCA cable. We circulate two of each device in nice bags and cases. 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 On Fri, Dec 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM Nicole Johnson via Michlib-l < michlib-l@liblists.org> wrote:
Hello!
Our library is looking into the possibility of purchasing equipment to create a digital conversion center within our library for people to come in and digitize old photos, slides, tapes, etc. For libraries that already have this setup in place, what equipment do you recommend that works well and is easy to use? Open to any suggestions and tips for creating a space like this!
Enjoy the holiday season!
Thanks, Nicole
Nicole Johnson Librarian Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library 906-486-4381 _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list -- michlib-l@liblists.org To unsubscribe send an email to michlib-l-leave@liblists.org
participants (4)
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Brandon -
Jill Rauh -
matt.grayvin＠rhpl.org -
Nicole Johnson