Franklin Park Library’s Digital Media Lab brings publishing power to patrons

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:13AM

Starting this month, the Franklin Park Library will offer its patrons access to all the equipment needed to create their own audio/visual content and publish it on the web.

The newest edition to its facility – the Digital Media Lab, or DML for short – contains all the hardware and software necessary for everyone with a creative spark to get their content out there.

The library is introducing the DML to give people an outlet to bring their imagination to life. With several laptops; a flip camcorder and tripod; external microphone; midi keyboard; powerful audio, picture, game, and video editing software; and a helpful staff, patrons will have free access to the DML in order to express their artistic side and share their creativity with the world.

It is not uncommon for our reference librarians to hear patrons say “I’m really grateful for all the services the library provides. Without it, I’d be lost.”

With new technology evolving more rapidly than we can imagine, it’s sometimes difficult for us to keep up with all of the emerging trends in the digital world. The staff at the Franklin Park Library understands this and constantly works to enable its community members to stay current amidst the ongoing digital revolution.

“There are plenty of people whose creativity goes untapped simply because they lack the resources to use it the way they want,” Michelle Lee wrote in the Wisconsin Public Libraries Form Collective Agreement for Econtent Acquisition. “Now they can come to the library and let that tap flow.”

If you are interested in using this equipment and/or software, call the reference desk to book a two-hour time slot. The DML’s time slots are determined by availability of our small meeting room, but efforts have been made to provide afternoon, evening and Saturday labs.

As slots are limited and are booked on a first-come, first-served basis, call (847) 455-6016, Ext. 2 early to book your time.