Boone Innovation Lab (BIL) Spotlight – Media Conversion Station

The cardboard box of photos sitting in your basement is screaming to be digitized! And the 8 mm film, videotapes, audio cassettes, and more are demanding the same attention. BCPL is making it easy to tackle the unattended box and preserve your memories. Even better, sharing becomes effortless!

The Media Conversion Station in the Boone Innovation Lab (BIL) at our Hebron Branch is equipped with the technology to create digital copies of a wide variety of media including the following:

8 mm or Super 8 film
VHS videotapes (regular or compact)
Mini DV tapes
Standard 8 mm, Hi8, or Digital 8 tapes
Vinyl Records
Audio Cassettes
Slides or Negatives
Printed Photographs
3.5 inch Floppy Disks
CDs or DVDs (copy and/or burn)

Things to consider

A reservation is needed to use the Media Conversion Station. Keep the following in mind when determining how much time you will need to reserve.

Converting 8mm and super 8 reels can take ten times the length of the recording. For example, a three-minute film can take 30 minutes to convert.
All other videotape and non-digital sound media are converted at-speed, or the exact time of the original recording. CDs or DVDs can be copied at a slightly faster speed.
Only one video or sound media can be converted at a time. But slides or photos can be converted while the video or sound is converting.

Before you arrive

Be sure to bring a flash drive or external hard drive to store your media after conversion. Typically, you will need at least 4 gb of space so we recommend 8 gb or more of capacity. If needed, an 8 gb flash drive can be purchased at the Library for $5. In addition, CDs and DVDs (without sleeves or cases) are available for $1 each.

Boone Innovation Lab Details

Located at the Main Library in Burlington and the Hebron Branch in Hebron, the BIL is a place to create, learn, and preserve memories. For more information or to reserve equipment visit Boone Innovation Lab. Appointments are required.

Boone Innovation Lab Equipment

Audio/Visual
green screen (Hebron)
microphones with POP filter (Hebron)
photo cube light set-up (Hebron)
media conversion station (Main)

Crafting/Sewing
sewing machine (Hebron)
quilting machine (Hebron)
embroidery machine (Hebron)
serger (Hebron)

Creator Group
3D printer (Main and Hebron)
Cricut (Main and Hebron)
3D scanner and 3D pens (coming soon)
laser cutter (Main and Hebron)
poster printer (Hebron) sublimation printer (Main) heat press (Main)

Computers
iMac with Adobe Creative Suite (coming soon)
Wacom tablet (Hebron)