Which format do you use to store your memories? Are they on a series of VHS tapes somewhere in your parentsโ garage? Do you inexplicably hold on to a drawer full of film negatives from the late 80s? Is your shoebox of old mixtapes still in that box you havenโt touched since you moved into your new apartment? Chances are, you have hours upon hours of video and audio recordings that have been rendered unusable by their very nature. Well, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is here to change that.
Last year, the REcollection Studio opened its doors to the public on the third floor of the Oakland branch. If youโve never ventured past the second floor of the library, the Pennsylvania Room is worth a lingering visit. This is the place to come to quench your thirst for genealogical research, to explore the Pennsylvania history collection, and to dig into the Pittsburgh Photographic Collection. But walk past the roomโs timeline of technologiesโstacks of newspapers, rolls of microfilm, drawers of microfiche, rows of desktop computersโand youโll find the REcollection Studio nestled in the back corner.
The awesome thing about this studio is the level of equipment the public has access to. Sure, you can take an old roll of film into your local drugstore and maybe (and thatโs a big maybe these days) get it developed. But wouldnโt you rather sit down and spend some time with those pictures of your grandad from his Navy days? Wouldnโt you rather that recording of your great-grandmother be digitized by someone whoโs not a total stranger? Every computer in this room is loaded up with all the software you might need to transform your outdated formats into digital files, and you have access to high-quality scanners and hardware that could cost thousands to buy on your own. The library operates this room with a DIY model, and a trained staff member or volunteer is available to guide you through the process. All you have to do is book an appointment, and youโre one step closer to giving your memories new life in a digital world.
If you want to learn more about this innovative library service, donโt miss this Saturdayโs Historic Pittsburgh Fair. Get preservation advice from archivists, bring in your old film reels for Home Movie Day, make crafts with historic materials, and even play a round of Pittsburgh Trivia. Swing by Oakland from 11am-2pm on November 3rd for a time to remember! (Get it?)
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
