Thanks to generous funding from the Bruce A. Michel Trust, the Park Ridge Public Library now has a Media Lab. The Media Lab 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. After attending an orientation, you can set up an appointment to use The Media Lab on your own. Call us at 847-720-3230 or use our online form below.
In the lab, you can:
- Transfer videocassettes to digital format
- Digitize Super 8 and 8mm film
- Scan and edit photos, slides, and negatives
- Preserve and digitize cassette tapes and records
- Create movies, slideshows, websites, podcasts, and more
The Lab, located near the Reference Desk, includes:
- Mac Studio computer with a 34″ screen
- Epson Perfection v600 Photo Scanner–scanning for photos, negatives, and slides
- GE 4-head VCR
- Roxio Video Capture Device–convert videocassette movies to digital
- Wolverine MovieMaker-PRO – May be used to digitize Super 8 and 8mm film reels
- 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
- Wacom Intuos 5 Tablet– Tablet for creating digital artwork or editing photos
- Blue Yeti microphone– Records broadcast-quality sound
- Sony MDR7506 Headphones
- 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 Mac also has all the software that comes from Apple, including iMovie for the creation and editing of movies, Garage Band, a whole music creation studio (headphones available), iTunes, Google Chrome, and more.
The library currently has the ability to convert the following:
- VHS
- VHS-C
- Hi8
- MiniDV
- 8mm video cassette
- 8mm and Super 8 film
Unfortunately, we cannot convert the following media formats at this time:
- Digital 8
- Betamax
Patrons who have completed the Media Lab orientation are welcome to bring their personal camcorders to convert video.
Contact the Reference department at 847-720-3230 with any questions.
Thank you for your interest in using The Media Lab.
A member of the Reference staff will get back to you shortly to confirm your appointment. Whenever possible, questions received on Monday – Thursday will receive a response within 24 hours. Questions received on Friday-Sunday will be responded to by the following Tuesday.
