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Library to offer staffed “memory lab” for digitizing photos, film and tapes; naming in honor of Dennis Copeland proposed
Summary
Library staff outlined a proposed facilitated memory lab where residents can digitize photos, slides, 8mm/super‑8 films, VHS and mini‑DV tapes using new equipment; trustees discussed volunteer/staff support, copyright waivers and a possible Copeland name and plaque.
Brian Edwards told the Board of Library Trustees that staff plan to open a facilitated “memory lab” at the Monterey Public Library to help residents digitize family photos, slides and analog video.
Edwards said the library has already acquired and will host a variety of equipment, including a new microfilm reader, an 8‑millimeter/super‑8 film reader, a mini‑DV player, a document/photograph feed scanner and a VHS player. “We have an 8 millimeter super 8 film reader as well as the…mini‑DV,” Edwards said, and described one‑to‑one transfer sessions that will typically be scheduled for one to two hours.
The lab will be a staffed or volunteer‑facilitated service rather than a professional paid conversion business, Edwards said, both to help patrons set up equipment and to avoid service delays at the public desk. “We’re looking at this as we are not a professional service,” he said, adding that staff and trained volunteers will set up equipment, help patrons and put units away.
Edwards also described planned safeguards for copyrighted commercial material. He said the library will use a waiver modeled on other public libraries and has purchased devices that, in their assessment, detect and will not record copy‑protected commercial media. “One of the key devices…reads the signal from it, and it won’t record material that’s…copyrighted,” he said.
Trustees raised practical questions about scheduling, volunteer availability and whether the lab’s equipment could handle slides and carousels. Edwards said slides will be digitized one at a time and high‑end bulk solutions are outside the project’s scope. He proposed limited, booked hours to prevent staff from being pulled off other responsibilities.
During the presentation Edwards suggested naming the space the Copeland Memory Lab in honor of the late Dennis Copeland and said he had discussed the idea with Copeland’s family. He said any formal naming would follow the city’s naming and donation policy and would be brought back to the board after family consultation.
The board did not take a formal vote on the naming at the meeting. Next steps are for staff to finalize operational details (scheduling, volunteer training and the waiver) and to return to the board with a formal naming proposal and implementation plan.
