Introducing the Digital Preservation Lab at RELIC

Old family photos, slides, Super 8 reels, and other cherished media no longer have to gather dust. RELIC's new Digital Preservation Lab at Central Library has the solution. Much like the makerspaces, the Digital Preservation Lab provides free-to-use equipment to digitize and share precious family memories. 

The equipment in the Digital Preservation Lab was specially selected to be user-friendly and minimize the need for complicated software, so patrons can quickly get started with archiving. RELIC Supervisor, Mary Kitiyakara, is RELIC’s specialist and has developed training for staff to lead one-on-one patron appointments.

Patrons will also have the full Adobe Creative Cloud available if they are interested in further editing their raw materials. This new service is currently available by appointment. Please call 703-792-8380 or email [email protected] to reserve time in the Digital Preservation Lab.

Available Equipment:

• 8mm and Super 8mm film reels ranging in size up to 9in. 
• Cassette recorder to digitize audio cassettes.
• Photo to digital scanner.
• Slides and negatives to digital device.
• VHS and VHS-C to digital recorder.
• Dual Monitor Mac Studio with Adobe Creative Cloud.

RELIC also offers a one-hour orientation, inviting patrons to explore the Digital Preservation Lab and learn the steps to digitize keepsakes and preserve family history. Library card holders can reserve a one-on-one session by searching “Preservation” on PWPL’s Online Events Calendar at pwcva.gov/library.

The Digital Preservation Lab was funded by a grant from Virginia Humanities.

Written by Natalie Hutchinson, Central Library Branch Manager