Digital Media Lab

Library patrons can now digitally preserve those special moments in their lives thanks to the new digitization service available in the Digital Media Lab. The service allows patrons to convert physical media (pictures, VHS video, slides) into digital formats to be stored on a thumb drive or hard drive. Learn more here.

Sing into our condenser microphone, play the digital keyboard, lay down a beat with the Maschine, add a riff with our Epiphone guitar, and a groove with our Squire bass guitar. Afterwards, arrange and tweak everything on Logic Pro.

With four RodeCaster Pro condenser microphones and a dedicated MacBook Air, you can make your own talk show with your friends or tell a story that demands to be shared. You can even use the mirrorless camera to record visuals if you want to add a video element to your podcast.

Use our mirrorless camera and Adobe Photoshop to add new life to your digital photography. You can also design arresting illustrations from the ground up using Adobe Illustrator. Or, if your project needs a new logo, you can do that here, too.

Record video footage with our Sony mirrorless camera, light up the set with our softbox lighting kits, use the green screen to add extraordinary backgrounds, and put everything together on Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro using a dedicated iMac station.

Library patrons will now be able to (digitally) preserve those special moments in their lives thanks to a new service. Now available through the Digital Media Lab at the Main Branch in Livingston, the new digitization service will allow patrons to convert VHS tapes, print photographs, and more to digital files they can save for years to come.

The LPL Digital Media Lab offers three types of digital conversions:

1. VHS video to MP4
2. Slide film and 35mm film negatives to digital image
3. Photograph prints to digital image

Digitization is a service of the Digital Media Lab. As such, patrons wishing to use the service must:

• Have a valid Livingston Parish Library card
• Undergo a brief (10-15 minutes) Digital Media Lab orientation and sign the Patron Agreement
• Sign a liability waiver for their media
• Be at least 18 years old or older OR have parental supervision

After undergoing orientation and signing the Patron Agreement, patrons will have full access to the Digital Media Lab.

• Patrons must book an appointment in order to use digital conversion equipment. Walk-ins are not encouraged because the lab is booked ahead of time and appointments are given priority.
• The maximum amount of time available to patrons for digital conversion appointments is two hours per session. (Appointments outside of normal lab hours may be booked depending on staff availability).
• Digital Media Lab staff will provide instruction and guidance on how to digitize media and will remain present during the conversion process. Patrons are not permitted to drop off media to be digitally converted. The Library is not responsible for patrons' videos, pictures, film negatives, or slide films.
• VHS tapes, film, and photograph prints suffer wear and degrade over time. The Library is not liable for any loss, damage, or expense sustained to media during the use of the lab's equipment.
• The VHS digital conversion service is available for personally created videos only, such as home movies. No copyrighted material is permitted.
• No digitally converted media will remain on the Library's computer after the appointment. Patrons must provide their own data storage device in order to save their media. We recommend a device with at least 2GB as one hour of video footage roughly equates to 1GB of data. The Library sells 16GB USB flash drives for $10.00.
• Limited video editing is available during the digital conversion process (removing dead-air during the beginning and end of the video). Advanced video and photo editing training and software is available through a normal DML session.
• The video digital conversion process takes place in realtime. If a video is two hours, it will take at least two hours or more to complete the process.

• Adobe Audition
• Logic Pro

• Final Cut Pro
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Adobe Premiere Rush
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Animate

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Lightroom
• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Adobe XD

• To use the Digital Media Lab, users must have a library card and be a patron in good standing.
• Lab users must also take a Lab orientation and also sign the Usage Agreement prior to Lab use.
• Patrons under the age of 18 who wish to use the Lab must have adult supervision.
• For patrons 14-17 years of age, parents or legal guardians must sign a Parental Guardian Agreement. This agreement also requires both the child and the parent to take the Lab orientation.

There are three types of visits hosted at the Digital Media Lab:

• Discovery Visits
• Book-A-LABrarian
• Full-Use Appointment

Discovery Visits are for visitors to tour the lab and its equipment. These visits usually last five to ten minutes. Although brief, this tour serves to introduce visitors to the technology available in the Lab.

Book-A-LABrarian is a chance for a patron to have a one-on-one session with DML staff. During the session, patrons can learn how to use a particular piece of hardware or software offered by the Lab. Because we will be using the Lab's equipment, patrons must first complete the orientation and sign the usage agreement. Book-A-LABrarian appointments lasts for a maximum of 90 minutes. We do not offer technical help for non-Lab equipment, be it software or hardware.

Full-Use Appointments are for patrons who are comfortable and confident with the Lab's equipment and ready to make their digital content. Patrons must also have taken the orientation and signed usage agreement. Staff will be present to offer basic guidance; however, staff cannot make content for the patron. Full-Use Appointments lasts for 2 hours and 30 minutes (with 30-minute extensions depending on Lab availability).

Patrons may book appointments ahead of time by using our website or by calling the DML. If time allows, walk-in appointments are permitted. However, we strongly urge patrons to call before making the trip to visit the Digital Media Lab.

The Digital Media Lab is located inside the Main Branch in Livingston. You can contact DML staff by phone at 225-686-4168 or by email at DML@mylpl.info.

View the Digital Media Lab usage policy.