Amanda L. Goodman - Digital Media Labs in Libraries

Abstract

Chapter 1 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 50, no. 6) Digital Media Labs in Libraries makes the case that digital media labs fit squarely into the librarys role in education and in providing public spaces. The chapter lists funding sources and defines scope by describing the setup in libraries of various sizes and resource levels.

T he Great Recession of the 2000s was hard. Each week across the United States, the news was full of stories of library funding being cut and libraries shutting down. Yet it was during this onset of bad news that a revolution was called for within libraries. This movement would change library patrons from consumers of information to creators. Phil Shapiro of PC World wrote in 2010, You start using the library space as a collaborative space to make things: books, music CDs, instructional videotapes, screencasts, art, inventions, software, and so on. Some libraries were ahead of the curve and had added creation spaces many years prior to the Great Recession. One version of this drive for content-creation space in a library is called a digital media lab (DML). This report explores what goes into building a digital creation center.

A DML is a gathering of equipment that allows original digital content to be created or analog content to be converted to digital formats. Sometimes a DML is a separate room in a library; other times its a cart bearing the equipment. Oftentimes, there is a staff and time investment in teaching patrons how to use the equipment. A DML is found not only in libraries, but also in museums and in academic departments for new media students and future journalists.

In this report, the DMLs selected may not all be considered DMLs by the libraries that house them, but each was chosen by the author because it fits several of the following criteria:

It provides equipment to the community for the creation of video, audio, or other digital content.

It offers members of the community the ability to transform analog media (e.g., cassette tapes, records, etc.) to digital formats.

It offers digital literacy programs on how to create digital content.

Content is being created in some form rather than just consumed.

A library that offers only a scanner would not be considered as having a DML, but a library that provides audiovisual equipment and a space to use that equipment would be.

Not every DML in this report may be part of a library, but it may provide you with ideas about where to look for funding or how much a DML may cost or other creative ideas to borrow.

A Rose by Any Other Name

DMLs go by many names. Tracking down a wide variety of labs for this report was hindered somewhat because so many name variations exist. The most common terms include creative, creation, and digital. All libraries mentioned in this report are in the United States but this does not mean that other countries lack outstanding examples of DMLs.

What Is a Makerspace?

A makerspace can include elements of a DML. However, makerspaces focus on the production of physical objects. Makerspaces had their origins in the hackerspace movements, but for libraries, the term makerspace tends to be more patron-friendly because it does not have the negative connotations of the word hacker. Makerspaces may also involve health hazards, such as the use of power tools, while it is unlikely that someone would get hurt taking photos or digitizing audio.

Hybrid DMLs

Not all content created in a DML is necessarily digital. Sometimes digital creations are printed out either as 2-D objects such as photos or as 3-D prints. The inclusion of 3-D printers, which create physical objects, causes some overlap between a DML and a makerspace. However, because such 3-D objects start out as digital files, I am including in this report DMLs that offer 3-D printers. These DMLs may be considered hybrids because they straddle the line between digital and physical creation. One example of this type of creative space is Chattanooga Public Librarys 4th Floor. While the library does not call the 4th Floor a makerspace or DML, it has elements of bothas well as its own flavor because the space is open and constantly changing.