1. Managing and Working with
Adults in a Digital Media Lab
Anne Belden
Ela Area Public Library

2. EAPL Digital Media Labs
• Opened December 14, 2011
• 2 small suites built out of what was a closet
• Funded with retained earnings
• Costs were approx. $67,000, which included a lot of
construction. Equipment alone cost around $18,000.

3. EAPL Digital Media Labs
• The Labs were used over 1000 times in their first
year
• Managed and checked in and out
by the Adult Reference Desk
• Use is limited to Ela cardholders
ages 12 and up (younger patrons may
use the Labs with a parent).

4. Digital Media Lab Contents
• Mac Pro Computer with iLife suite and Adobe
creative suite
• Camcorder, green screen, and
filming lights
• Voice microphone
• Instrument microphone

5. Digital Media Lab Contents
• Scanner that scans slides
and negatives
• VHS to DVD converter
• Recently, by popular demand: a cassette player to
use with the computer to convert audiocassettes to
CD or mp3

6. Media Lab Extras
• Midi keyboard
• Box of cables, converters, etc.

9. “This is the best thing ever
to happen in Lake Zurich.”

10. Staffing
• Many staffing options are possible:
▫ Adding full-time or part-time staff
▫ Expanding the role of part-time staff
▫ Not adding any additional staff
▫ Volunteers

11. Staffing
• Questions to Ask:
▫ Who will reserve and check the labs in and out?
▫ What hours will help be available?
▫ Will help be on-the-fly, one-on-one by appointment,
in the classroom, etc?
▫ How will the lab(s) be kept secure?

12. Hiring
• Look for experience/training in
▫ graphic arts,
▫ video production,
▫ audio production,
▫ or multimedia.
• Check out your local art school for possible college
majors

13. Not Hiring
• Check labs in and out at an existing service point
• Consider volunteers
• Consider offering
help by appointment
• Look for motivated staff and give them time to play
and learn in the labs

14. Help Resources
• Videos – Subscription services or
free
• Books in the Media Labs

15. Help Resources
• “Quick Start” instructions
• Blog Posts

16. Help Resources
• Library generated training videos
• Small group classes in-library
• Outside classes –
Apple store, local community
colleges

17. Seniors in the Labs
• At least 25% of users of the Ela Digital Media Labs
have been seniors.
• “Lure” them in with conversion, then get fancier.
• Make sure help is available, preferably a real person.
• If you have a senior liaison, train them!

18. Adults in the Labs
• Publicizing
▫ Work with the local media if posssible
▫ Handouts: old-school, but they have an audience
▫ Exhibit what others have done
▫ Emphasize what they can do or create
• Practice your elevator speech