One local library is offering a new way for residents to preserve their family history.
The Seymour Library in Auburn has opened its Digital Memories Lab as part of its History Discovery Center. The lab allows for the digitization of VHS tapes, 8mm and Super 8 motion picture film, 35mm negatives and slides, photographs, and documents. Plans are currently underway to allow for the digitization of cassettes as well.
Director of Communications and Marketing for the library, Maureen McEvers, told Finger Lakes News Radio that this is something the library is excited to allow families to preserve their own histories.
“It’s been something that we’ve wanted to do for some time,” McEvers said. “, just with being able to help families preserve their own memories.”
Once the content is digitized, guests can either store their files on an external hard drive or upload them to the cloud.
“We also do ask that individuals bring in their own personal storage device, whether it be a USB or an external hard drive. Or, if they would prefer to store on the cloud they need to make sure they have an account created through something like Google Drive or Dropbox.” McEvers continued.
The Digital Memories lab is free to use; however, there are some rules for its use.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling the History Discovery Center at 315-252-2571 ext 414 during its operation hours of Wednesday through Friday from 10:00a-4:00p. Appointments are limited to one person per day with a maximum of two hours per appointment.
The library adds that, to use the lab’s equipment, guests must agree to abide by US copyright laws and the Library Public Use of Computers and Access to the Internet Policy, including the prohibition of using the equipment to digitize sexually explicit or suggestive material.
McEvers also said that guests should be aware that the digitization process happens in real-time.
“So, for example, a 1-hour video or audio file would take an hour to transfer plus the additional time necessary for compressing the file and also for saving it,” McEvers said.
This means that, in keeping with the library’s policy of a maximum of two hours per appointment, it may prove difficult to digitize longer works. She said the library is willing to try and help though.
“If they have like a 2 1/2-hour video, we’re going to have to be creative in finding ways to work around that,” McEvers added.
The Digital Memories Lab was funded in part by a grant from the Fred M. Everett and Ora H. Everett Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N. A., Trustee.
For more information on this and other services Seymour Library offers, you can call the library at 315-252-2571 or visit its website.
