Managing and Working with Adults in a Digital Media Lab

Anne BeldenEla Area Public Library

EAPL Digital Media Labs

•Opened December 14, 2011

•2 small suites built out of what was a closet

•Funded with retained earnings

•Costs were approx. $67,000, which included a lot of construction. Equipment alone cost around $18,000.

EAPL Digital Media Labs

•The Labs were used over 1000 times in their first

year

•Managed and checked in and out by the Adult Reference Desk

•Use is limited to Ela cardholdersages 12 and up (younger patrons mayuse the Labs with a parent).

Digital Media Lab Contents

•Mac Pro Computer with iLife suite and Adobe creative suite

•Camcorder, green screen, and filming lights

•Voice microphone

• Instrument microphone

Digital Media Lab Contents

•Scanner that scans slides and negatives

•VHS to DVD converter

•Recently, by popular demand: a cassette player to

use with the computer to convert audiocassettes to

CD or mp3

Media Lab Extras

•Midi keyboard

•Box of cables, converters, etc.

“This is the best thing ever to happen in Lake Zurich.”

Staffing

•Many staffing options are possible:

▫Adding full-time or part-time staff

▫Expanding the role of part-time staff

▫Not adding any additional staff

▫Volunteers

Staffing

•Questions to Ask:

▫Who will reserve and check the labs in and out?

▫What hours will help be available?

▫Will help be on-the-fly, one-on-one by appointment, in the classroom, etc?

▫How will the lab(s) be kept secure?

Hiring

•Look for experience/training in ▫graphic arts, ▫video production, ▫audio production, ▫or multimedia.

•Check out your local art school for possible college majors

Not Hiring•Check labs in and out at an existing service point

•Consider volunteers

•Consider offering help by appointment

•Look for motivated staff and give them time to play

and learn in the labs

Help Resources• Videos – Subscription

services or free

• Books in the Media Labs

Help Resources• “Quick Start” instructions

• Blog Posts

Help Resources

•Library generated training videos

•Small group classes in-library

•Outside classes – Apple store, local community colleges

Seniors in the Labs

•At least 25% of users of the Ela Digital Media Labs have been seniors.

•“Lure” them in with conversion, then get fancier.

•Make sure help is available, preferably a real person.

• If you have a senior liaison, train them!

Adults in the Labs

•Publicizing▫Work with the local media if posssible▫Handouts: old-school, but they have an

audience▫Exhibit what others have done▫Emphasize what they can do or create

•Practice your elevator speech