Wayback Wednesday Open House & Live Demo in the Memory Lab

# Calling All 80s and 90s Kids

What does a pencil and an audio cassette have in common? If you know you know... but you're definitely also going to want to check out the Memory Lab at Main Library! There have been a few upgrades to the space lately, thanks to funding from a Mellon grant.

In addition to some new equipment, there are even more do-it-yourself digitization stations open to library cardholders for scanning old photos, transferring home movies on VHS or film to digital, and converting old audio. You could totally recapture your youth... or at least your old mix tapes!

So, whether you've been holding on to that physical media for years or you recently inherited the family's photo albums and home movie collection, take your next trip down "memory lane" at the Library.  The service is 100% free with your library card. 

# A "Wayback Wednesday" Open House 

Learn more about the Memory Lab and the recent upgrades and additions at our next Open House on Wednesday, May 1, from 6-8:30 p.m. (during Art Walk). Special Collections staff will be available to demonstrate equipment and answer any questions you may have about our digitization services, African American History Collection, Florida Collection, Genealogy Collection and so much more. 

If you can't make it that night, you can stop by any time the Main Library is open for a demo! The Memory Lab is located on the fourth floor of the Main Library in Special Collections (next to the Ansbacher Map Room).

Pro Tip: You don't need a special appointment to visit the Memory Lab (just because it's located in a section of the Library called Special Collections). But if you want to make sure a specific station or piece of equipment is available for you when you arrive, you can reserve a station, Monday through Saturday, at jaxlibrary.org/memory or by calling (904) 255-BOOK. 

# Transfer Old Video and Film

We've got VCRs, Betamax, VHS-C adapters, Hi8 and Mini DV camcorders and even film transfer hardware (8mm, Super 8, 16mm and 35mm). Transfer your home movies - before they go the way of the dinosaur! And skip those high fees from legacy media transfer companies! 

Please note: The film transfer service is available by appointment only.

# Scan Photos, Slides and Negatives

Show your kids that you, too, had drip! Not only are the clothes you wore back in high school already back in style (and "vintage"), the envelopes full of photos and negatives that you have in boxes in the back of the closet are taking up valuable storage space. Scan them and store them on the cloud or share those #ThrowbackThursday posts with family and friends.