BROWARD COUNTY, FL - In January 2019 Broward County Library reveals its latest free service, the Digital Memory Lab, offering instruction and equipment to preserve photographs, slides, video and audio tapes for future generations. The Memory Lab will be part of Weston Branch, 4205 Bonaventure Boulevard, Weston, FL 33332.
Classes and operation begin opening day, Wednesday, January 16 with an orientation session at 10:30AM, a prerequisite for using the Memory Lab, which has professional-grade equipment for converting a variety of media to digital format, thereby making it usable in years to come. The Memory Lab equipment will enable customers to transfer videos from VHS and VHS-C before the tapes naturally disintegrate. Supported formats include VHS, VHS-C, slides, and photographs. All physical and digital material remains the personal property of the customer.
The Memory Lab also offers free digital preservation classes. In the Memory Lab classes, customers will learn good practices for managing and storing digital files for preservation; to organize papers, photographs, and digital files; what happens to digital assets after death; and to transfer old media to new file formats so they can be shared.
“Most people have lost at least some digital photos or files, and it happens easily,” says Library Curator Erin Purdy. “We all risk losing massive amounts of personal, cultural, and historical information if we don’t take control of our digital assets. Good practices can be simple, don’t take too much effort, and the result is materials that can be handed down over time.”
Last spring, Broward County Library had the distinction of being one of seven libraries in the United States selected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to become a Memory Lab Network project partner, receiving the training and funding to create a local Memory Lab for the public.
The Memory Lab at Broward County Library is made possible by a sub-grant from the District of Columbia Public Library Memory Lab Network and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Contact Erin Purdy 954-357-7363 or epurdy@broward.org for additional information. Contact Weston Branch Library at 954-357-5420 to register for classes and Lab use.
About Broward County Libraries Division
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than 7.5 million walk-in customers visiting its 38 locations annually.Broward County Libraries Division provides convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.
DATE: December 14 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine McElrath
Libraries Division
EMAIL: cmcelrath@broward.org
PHONE:954-357-7402