Media Stations

Digitize and preserve different types of media—such as VHS tapes, cassette tapes, film negatives, and more—and edit photos, graphics, video, and audio at the Creative Studio‘s Media Stations located on the third floor of the Main Library.

Making your reservation

• Make a reservation online: Reserve Media Station 1 or reserve Media Station 2 (see the chart below for equipment and software available at each station)
• Call 708.383.8200 (press 2)
• In person at any service desk

More about reservations

• Reserve for up to 3 consecutive hours during Main Library open hours (please note: Creative Studio computers shut down 30 minutes before closing).
• Extensions are not available.
• Scheduling in advance is recommended; reservations can be made up to 4 weeks in advance.
• Reservations may be released if you arrive 15 minutes after your scheduled time.
• Reservable by everyone (14+).
• Bring a library card registered with the Oak Park Public Library or a valid ID.
• To change or cancel a reservation, please tell us as soon as possible. Contact us now or call 708.383.8200 (press 2).

Using the stations

Do-it-yourself environment

Want additional guidance from staff at these stations? Sign up for a one-on-one, 30-minute Learning Lab appointment to learn more about using software and equipment available at these stations. Please note: In-depth, day-of assistance is not available.

What you can digitize

These stations feature a VCR, a cassette player, high-quality scanners, and additional equipment for digitizing and preserving documents, photos, 35mm negatives, 120/medium format negatives, slides, VHS tapes, and more.

Available at each station

Some equipment is available at each station, and some is available by request on a first-come, first-served basis (as noted in the chart below).

EQUIPMENT	MEDIA STATION 1 (Mac)	MEDIA STATION 2 (Windows)
1/8-inch audio cable and adapters*	x	x
Arturia MiniLab 3 Midi Controller and Keyboard	x	x
Cassette player*	x	x
Epson FastFoto Scanner (for prints and documents)	x
Epson V600 Scanner (for prints, negatives, and slides)		x
Film negative and slide scanning attachments*		x
Floppy disk reader*	x	x
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 Audio Interface	x
KODAK REELS 8 mm and Super 8 Film Digitizer**	training required; available by request	training required; available by request
Microcassette player*	x	x
MiniDV digitization toolbox*	x	x
VCR	x	x
VHS-C cassette adapter*	x	x

SOFTWARE	MEDIA STATION 1 (Mac)	MEDIA STATION 2 (Windows)
Adobe Acrobat Pro	x
Adobe Audition	x
Adobe Firefly	x
Adobe Illustrator	x
Adobe InDesign	x
Adobe Lightroom	x
Adobe Photoshop	x
Adobe Photoshop Elements		x
Adobe Premiere Elements		x
Audacity	x	x
DVD Flick		x
Elgato Video Capture	x	x
Epson FastFoto	x
Epson Scan		x
GarageBand	x
Handbrake	x	x

*While some preservation equipment is already available at each station, this equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please select the equipment you’d like to use when making the reservation. This equipment is stored in a locked cabinet, so please visit the third-floor service desk when you arrive to retrieve it. Staff will temporarily hold onto a library card or ID while the equipment is in use.

**Staff training required to learn how to use the KODAK REELS 8 mm and Super 8 Film Digitizer: Request a Learning Lab appointment »

Planning ahead

• BEFORE:
  • Bring your own external hard drive to save and take edited files with you at the end of your session. Need to borrow a hard drive? Check out a hard drive—with 2 TB of space—with your Oak Park library card.
• DURING:
  • We recommend holding negatives carefully on the edges and using cotton or non-latex gloves when possible. 
  • Media files are big! Plan to use 30 minutes at the end of your session to save files to your external hard drive.
• AFTER: For everyone’s privacy, all files are removed from library computers at the end of each session.