Middle Georgia Regional Library brings life to old media with Memory Lab grant

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.

“Much of our history- both as individuals and the community- is in danger of being lost as important moments are trapped on outdated media like VHS tapes or audiocassettes,” said MGRL director Jennifer Lautzenheiser. “The Memory Lab will allow those moments to be preserved- from pieces of Macon’s music history and civic life to weddings, christenings, and other irreplaceable memories.”

The Memory Lab will have equipment to convert photographs, slides and a variety of audiovisual formats from legacy media to digital. Planning and equipment-gathering for the Memory Lab is underway with plans to open to the public this summer.

In addition to self-service public access, library staff will use the equipment to digitize priceless Macon history found in the Middle Georgia Archives, including recordings of the Macon Symphony Orchestra.

Middle Georgia Regional Library was one of seven libraries in the nation chosen to receive this grant which includes staff training, funds to purchase some of the needed equipment, and support for the project under the Memory Lab Network umbrella. Procedures developed by libraries who receive the grant will be used to create training materials that other libraries can use to develop similar programs.

The Middle Georgia Regional Library serves six counties across central Georgia. The library’s mission is to connect all people to the information necessary to improve their lives through excellent services and materials.