Media Lab | Park Ridge Public Library
Thanks to generous funding from the Bruce A. Michel Trust, the Park Ridge Public Library now has a Media Lab (ML). The ML is available to Park Ridge Library cardholders who have attended a mandatory orientation.
For a current schedule of orientations and to register, visit our online program calendar and search "Media Lab." After attending an orientation, you can set up an appointment to use the ML on your own. Call us at 847-720-3230 or use our online form.
In the lab you can:
- Transfer videocassettes (VHS, VHS-C, and 8mm cassettes) to digital format
- Scan and edit photos, slides, and negatives
- Preserve and digitize cassette tapes and records
- Create movies, slideshows, websites, podcasts and more
Click here to see a complete copy of the Media Lab policies. The Lab is located near the Reference Desk, and includes:
Equipment
- iMac computer with 27" screen
- Epson Perfection v550 Photo Scanner--scanning for photos, negatives, and slides
- GE 4-head VCR
- Elgato Video Capture Device--convert videocassette movies to digital
- Canon VM-E2N 8MM Camera & Recorder – May be used to play 8mm videocassettes for digital conversion- Temporarily unavailable
- VHS Cassette Adaptors – Adapts VHS-C cassettes for playback on VCR
- Apple USB Superdrive– CD and DVD burning for iMac
- TEAC CD Recorder with Turntable/Cassette Player – Convert LPs and cassette tapes to CD or digital
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- Wacom Intuos 5 Tablet– Tablet for creating digital artwork or editing photos
- Blue Yeti microphone– Records broadcast-quality sound
- Sony MDR7506 Headphones
Software
- Adobe Acrobat – Create, edit, and sign pdf files; convert files to pdf
- Adobe After Effects – Cinematic visual effects and motion graphics
- Adobe Animate – Design graphics and animation
- Adobe Audition – Audio recording, mixing and restoration
- Adobe Bridge – Centralize your creative assets
- Adobe Character Animator- Animate graphics imported from Photoshop or Illustrator
- Adobe Dimension- Design and create 3D renderings
- Adobe Dreamweaver – Web and mobile design
- Adobe Illustrator – Design and edit vector graphics and illustration
- Adobe InCopy – Collaborate with copywriters and editors
- Adobe InDesign – Page design and layout for print and digital publishing
- Adobe Lightroom Classic – Digital photo processing and editing
- Adobe Media Encoder – Create optimized video for any screen
- Adobe Muse CC 2018 – Website design without coding
- Adobe PhotoShop – Image editing and compositing
- Adobe Prelude – Ingest and logging tool for tagging media with metadata
- Adobe Premier Pro – Video production and editing
- Adobe Premier Rush – Video editing for novice users
- Adobe XD- Design tool for web and mobile apps
- Audacity – Audio editing software
- Epson Scan – Scanning software for photos, negatives, slides, and documents
- Toast Titanium – Burn data, audio, or video to CD or DVD
The iMac also has all software that comes from Apple including iMovie for creation and editing of movies, Garage Band, a whole music creation studio (headphones available), iTunes, Google Chrome and more.
Video to Digital Capabilities
The library currently has the ability to convert the following videocassettes:
- VHS
- VHS-C
- Hi8
- Video/8mm cassette (Temporarily unavailable)
- 8mm and Super 8 film
Unfortunately, we cannot convert the following media formats at this time:
Patrons who have completed the Media Lab orientation are welcome to bring their personal camcorders to convert video.
Contact Reference at (847) 720-3230 with any questions.