Wait, You Can Do That at the Library?: Preserving Family Memories

The holidays are coming up and that might mean you may see family members you haven't seen in a while. This is a great time to break out the old shoeboxes full of family photos or the dusty VHS tapes of home family videos so that you can reminisce together. Now, you might think to yourself, "Self, how do I view these moments in time with my family if I don't have a VCR anymore?" Or, "Self, my family lives across the country and there's no way I'm paying for an extra checked bag by carrying these photo albums on the plane." Or, "Self, I need to clear out my house before company arrives and what better way than tossing these things taking up space?" We have a solution to some of your problems: our Digital Studio!*

Scan of a 35mm color slide from circa November 1972

Digital Studio 101

So what is the Digital Studio and how can someone use it to preserve their family memories? According to our Digital Studio webpage, "The Digital Studio will provide patrons 18+ with the means to digitally organize and preserve audio and video family history through the use of our scanners, computers, and software. The Digital Studio is intended for those who want to use the library's photo digitization equipment, audio cassette tape or VHS conversion equipment." 

The Digital Studio opened to the public in 2021 and is located on the first floor of the library opposite the Newspapers & Magazines desk near the Franklin Street entrance. Our Digital Studio has two PCs and two Macs, but this post is going to focus on the PCs and the equipment connected to them. 

Digital Studio

Baby Photos, Family Vacations, Family Portraits, and More

Our two PCs on the right side of the Digital Studio are used for separate purposes: the PC on the left is used for digitizing photos, slides, and negatives and the one on the right is used for converting VHS tapes and cassette tapes to digital video and audio files. 

We have two Epson scanners for digitizing print photos: a Epson Perfection V39 flatbed scanner used to scan one photo at a time and a Epson FastFoto FF-680W high-speed scanner that can quickly scan batches of approximately 30 photos of similar sizes at a time. The included Epson software allows for scanning customization (For example, you may use a specific image file format or resolution size if you're sharing the photo on social media versus needing a higher quality image in order to print an enlarged photo to hang on your wall).

Photo circa 1970s and the scanned image using the Epson Perfection V39 flatbed scanner

Epson FastFoto FF680-W

Finally, we have a Kodak Scanza digital film scanner that can be used to digitize slides and negatives. Most of the slides and negatives scanned using this machine are 35mm (this is what you probably have at home if you have any slides or negatives). Incidentally, the same model of the Kodak Scanza digital film scanner is available to borrow from our Library of Things collection at both the Main Library and the Frances Perkins Branch. Ask our librarians if you need help putting a LOT digital film scanner on hold. Note: a regular SD card is required to use any of our digital film scanners.

Slide Carousel with Slides of Al Banx Cartoons

Kodak Scanza Digital Film Scanner with Negative of an Old WPL Branch

Wedding Videos, School Plays, Oral Histories and More

On the video side of things, we use VidBox equipment and its included software attached to a VCR to convert VHS tapes to MP4 files in real time. In addition, we might be able to convert hi-8 tapes using a camcorder or VHS-C tapes using a VHS-c cassette adapter. Please talk to our Digital Studio staff if you have a specific question about converting videos. Unfortunately, we do not have the equipment to convert Super 8 film reels. 

Using the VidBox and VCR to Convert VHS Tape

We have the ability to convert cassette tapes to MP3 audio files in real time using a special cassette player along with Audacity software on the same PC that is used for VHS conversion. You can also use Audacity to edit the audio files after you convert them.

Super USB Cassette Capture Device

Saving and Sharing the Memories

You will need a flash drive or other method of storage to externally save your new image, audio, or video files because our computers are designed to wipe the files at the end of each computer session. There are many options for sharing your newly saved files with friends and family across the country, including using a shared cloud storage account, emailing the files, uploading to your social media account, or even snail mailing the storage device.

Teaching the Basics

Of course, we're not going to make you use all of this new-to-you equipment without giving you some instructions on how to use them. In fact, our Digital Studio orientations are mandatory in order for you to be able to use the equipment in the future. We've found that people take comfort in these orientations because they learn to use the equipment more confidently with a little metaphorical handholding. Once you are fully certified with a snazzy Certificate of Completion, the training wheels come off and you will be able to use any of this equipment by yourself without us sitting next to you. 

Certificate of Completion

Accessing the Digital Studio

Those who have received a Certificate of Completion for attending our orientations may use the space for up to two hours on a first come, first serve basis. We do block off access to the digitization and conversion section of the Digital Studio for our dedicated orientation appointment slots on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 P.M. and on occasion we will block off the space for scheduled one-on-one appointments with people who aren't able to make it to the Wednesday orientations. Other than that, as long as no one else is using a specific computer, that space can be all yours for the two hours once you sign in with our Newspapers & Magazines department staff. 

Touching Up Your Images or Videos

Now we did mention the Macs before, and while they're not directly used with our equipment to preserve your family photos or videos, they can be used if you want to use the Adobe Creative Cloud software to edit your files. In fact, the Digital Studio PC used for digitizing photos, slides, and negatives also has Adobe Creative Cloud (so does our Adobe computer on the 2nd floor). So, if you want to touch up a faded photo or remove an estranged relative from an image, you can freely use our Photoshop software to edit the photos. We do not offer any classes or tutorials on using any of the Adobe Creative Cloud software so it is expected you know how to use them. Access to Adobe Creative Cloud in the Digital Studio does not require a Certificate of Completion so you can just sign in first come, first serve with our Newspapers & Magazines staff.

Next Steps?

There you have it: the basic guide to what's offered in our Digital Studio and how you can use the space so you can learn how to preserve your family memories! Want to make an appointment for a Digital Studio orientation? Contact us via this form: one-on-one appointment form or see if any of our Wednesday time slots are available on our online calendar.

P.S.

*You're on your own with the cleaning and decluttering of your house: we're a library, not a housekeeping service! We do have books on those subjects if you need tips though (648.5 and 648.8 are two good call numbers to start with if you're in need of assistance!).