Memory Lab
What is a Memory Lab?
The Memory Lab @ Washington Memorial Library provides equipment for digitizing home movies, scanning photographs, and converting audio-visual content images from legacy media to digital. It's a do-it-yourself (DIY) model, meaning we provide step-by-step instructions, but you control the process from start to finish.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant Number LG-95-17-0079-17.
The lab can be reserved for three-hour sessions. You can reserve up to two appointments per day in advance, with the option to stay longer if there are no other pending appointments.
Why should I care about personal archiving?
As technology advances, many of us are left with irreplaceable memories trapped on outdated, decaying media. Middle Georgia Regional Library has secured a grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services to bring publicly-available, self-service digital conversion to Middle Georgia in an innovative Memory Lab.
Daily organization. Personal collections are larger than ever, spanning physical things like keepsakes and journals, to digital things like Word documents, photographs, email, and social media accounts. Taking steps to care for your stuff will help you locate, reference, and re-use what you create.
Security. Losing track of your assets and online accounts is a threat to your online identity and personal security. This means that sometimes even deleting is a valuable personal archiving strategy.
Legacy. What you produce purposefully (like a home movie or photograph) and what you produce in daily life (like a calendar appointment or email) could be important for your loved ones and for the cultural record.
- Must watch the required instructional videos before the lab can be booked.
- Check availability and book your appointment. You must have a PINES library card to book a session. Sessions are three hours long.
- Sign the release form and MGRL Memory Lab Policies. If you are younger than 17, parental consent is required.
- Arrive at your first session 15 minutes early. Check-in with staff at the information desk at the Washington Memorial Library. Staff may inspect your digital media to ensure that it does not harm Memory Lab equipment. Your library card must be presented at this time.
- Staff will point you to the Memory Lab! In order to protect your property and Memory Lab equipment, please ask the staff to lock the door if you need to leave the Lab during your appointment time.
The Memory Lab at Washington Memorial Library is open to the public for use with their PINES library card.
*Appointments are required.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Thursday 10:00 am - 7:45 pm
Friday -Saturday 10:00 am - 5:45 pm
Digital Preservation Classes
Learn good practices for managing and storing digital files for preservation; to organize papers, photographs, and digital files; and to transfer old media to new file formats so they can be shared and preserved. (Free)
Upcoming Classes - No pre-requirements and can be taken in any order. Pre-registration is required, contact Middle Georgia Regional Library at 478-310-2130 to register for classes.
- Audiovisual racks
- CRT video-editing monitors
- Video decks (prosumer VHS/S-VHS, Betamax, Hi-8, Video8, etc.)
- Analog time base corrector
- VHS-C (cassette) adaptor cases
- Minidisc players
- Audiocassette decks
- A-D converters
Duplicate donations are welcome to allow for the seamless provision of services during cleaning, maintenance, and other equipment downtimes.