A high tech digitisation lab (DigiLab) has been officially launched at Newcastle Library today, where rare and fragile items dating back to the early 1800s can now be digitally preserved for future generations.
The $400,000 DigiLab will feature cutting-edge equipment, 3D scanning instruments, and robotic page-turners, converting 2,500 pages an hour into digital information.
Co-funded through the City of Newcastle’s works program and an $85,000 Metropolitan Public Library Grant from the State Library of NSW, the DigiLab will enable the City to preserve thousands of rare and ageing items.
Councillor Carol Duncan said the DigiLab was able to preserve archival records, photographs, maps, pictures, newspapers, and rare books which documented the story of Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
“Collecting, preserving, and sharing our local history and cultural identity is a key pillar for our Library Service and aligns with the objectives of our Community Strategic Plan 2030,” Cr Duncan said.
“The Library History and Heritage Collection encompasses more than 440,000 items, with some of these collections dating back to the early 1800s and featuring rare, unique and notable items.
“As the custodians of the City’s archives, we look forward to being able to preserve the many ageing records we look after thanks to the assistance of the State Library of NSW grant and our own significant investment.”
Cr Duncan said they looked forward to opening the service to customers after successfully digitising the City’s records.
One part of the DigiLab available for community use is the MemoryLab, which allows people to preserve their histories by converting family items on VHS, VHS-C cassette, and 8mm video camera tapes into digital files for free.
Manager Libraries and Learning, Suzie Gately, said the DigiLab supported researchers and inspired local creatives to present local history differently.
“The DigiLab will provide rich, high-quality content for both physical exhibitions as well as augmented and virtual reality, allowing us to tell Newcastle’s stories in new and innovative ways,” Ms Gately said.
“We will also be able to integrate this output with the technologies on offer at our Digital Library at 12 Stewart Avenue, including the eight metre-wide Digital Storywall and the digital multimedia ‘Magic Box’, which is only the second of its kind in Australia.”
To make a booking for the MemoryLab, contact Newcastle Library or visit their website for more details.
Information source: Media release, May 14, City of Newcastle