How to use the Wildcats Memory Lab

Yes, all digitization sessions require prior registration. You can submit your request and fill out the short intake form here: https://libcal.library.arizona.edu/reserve/memory-lab.

You do not need a library card to use this space. It is completely free and open to all.

The lab is designed to be a do-it-yourself space, and written instructions will be provided in the room. However, feel free to contact the team to arrange on-site help as needed at  LBRY-MemoryLab@arizona.edu.

The Wildcats Memory Lab is located on the 3rd floor of the Main Library. After exiting the stairwell or elevator, facing north, turn right and you will see the lab in the center of the hallway. Please see the orientation video for further instructions.

The following formats supported are subject to change. Please contact us for up-to-date information if you have any concerns.

• Scanning Station: Photos & documents up to 12.2” x 17.2” and film/transparent media up to 12” x 16.5”. Larger items can be scanned in sections and the images stitched together. Includes a large flatbed scanner, a 35mm slide batch scanner, a fast film scanner, and a photo/document batch scanner. If you have questions about the best fit for your project, please contact us.
• Audio Station: Audiocassette, microcassette, vinyl record, CD/DVD, Zip drive.
• Video Station: VHS/S-VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, MiniDV, Hi8/Video8/Digital8, MicroMV, 8mm/Super8 film, CD/DVD. 

Audio and video tapes are digitized in real time, meaning that 3 hours of footage takes 3 hours to digitize. Please also account for the time it will take to set up, read through the instructions, and transfer your files at the end. 

Scanning can also be a lengthy process. Slides and negatives can take much longer, as they need to be scanned at a higher resolution. The lab has alternative scanner options to the flatbed for quicker, lower quality scans. See Tutorials to learn more.

Please plan to be in the lab for the duration of your session. While you can take breaks and step away as needed, you are responsible for your project and the equipment during the digitization process. It is important that you keep an eye on your project to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Please leave food and drink outside the lab to protect the equipment and your materials. Water can be kept on the floor, away from the workspaces.

Please bring a flash drive or external hard drive to save your files. Alternatively, you can bring a personal device and transfer them by borrowing a lab flash drive. At this point, you can upload them to cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox). The lab computers are offline, so you will not be able to do this without a personal device.