RPL’s Memory Lab
Marvin Hicks, the Community Memory Fellow for the Richmond Public Library, contacted the WLCA to tell us all about the incredible resources at the Library’s Memory Lab. Here’s what he shared:
The Memory Lab is a space where individuals can digitize and preserve their personal stories, documents, and photographs. We provide tools for digitizing home media such as photos, Kodachrome slides, VHS tapes, and audio cassettes, and offer support for recording oral histories and archiving personal or family materials. The goal is to make these resources accessible to everyone, regardless of library card status, and to empower Richmonders to contribute to a more inclusive history of the city. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to safeguard their own history, or organizations, such as yours, who would like to preserve and digitally share information. You can learn more about it here: Memory Lab | Richmond Public Library.
We also have Personal Archiving Kits available for checkout that include a camcorder, voice recorder, lights, and a tripod for on-the-go filming of elder's stories, interviews, or if someone just wants to make a video and edit it with our in-house software –– again, all free of charge!
Additionally, we manage our Digital Special Collections, which includes a mix of library-owned materials and contributions from the public. Our digital platform offers access to a wide range of historic photos, event recordings, and more. You can explore the collections here: Richmond Public Library Digital Collections. If you, or your organization, have materials related to Richmond’s history, such as photos of streetscapes and buildings to oral histories or personal narratives, we’d love to consider including them in our digital collections in a either in our Memory Lab contribution folder, or in a collection dedicated to the your civic group. Historic photos, recordings, or organizational records are just a few examples of what could contribute to preserving and sharing the city’s history with a wider audience.
If you visit the Memory Lab, let us know!