Memory Cart

Digitize your memories with the Library’s Memory Cart

What is a Memory Cart?Memory Cart

A Memory Cart is a cart that holds technology that can be used to digitize old photographs, negatives, slides, family letters, VHS tapes of family movies, and family films recorded on 8mm and/or Super 8 film. Laconia Public Library is excited to have equipment for digitizing and preserving your memories by converting photographs, slides, film negatives, family letters, and home movies to digital formats. 

What can I digitize with the Memory Cart?

The Memory Cart is equipped with a flatbed scanner, a VHS Vidbox Converter, a Wolverine 8mm/Super 8 digitizer, and a laptop. This means you can digitize all sorts of memorabilia! Examples of items that can be digitized using the Memory Cart include:

  • Photographs
  • Slides
  • Negatives
  • Medium-format panoramic film
  • Letters 
  • Family movies on VHS tapes
  • Family movies on 8mm/Super 8 film

How do I sign up to use the Memory Cart?

Laconia Public Library’s Memory Cart is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you would like to use the Memory Cart to digitize your memorabilia, ask a staff member at the main desk. The Memory Cart is located in our Local History Room, so you will need to sign in and provide a license or other form of identification at the main desk prior to using the Memory Cart. 

What will I need to bring with me?

  1. Materials that you would like to digitize.
  2. e device. Please bring a USB Flash Drive or USB external storage device for scanned items or digitized VHS files. Please make sure you have enough room available for the items you are saving. A good rule of thumb is that 1 hour of compressed VHS will take about 2.5GB of storage space, and uncompressed will take about 15GB. Plan to bring more storage than you need.
  3. For 8mm/Super 8 film, you will need to bring your own SD/SDHC card no larger than 32GB. Any other type of SD card will not work. 

Super8 ConverterIs there anything else I need to know?

  • The Memory Cart may not be used to digitize materials that are currently under copyright, (including programs recorded off of television). 
  • VHS footage is digitized in real-time. If your VHS tape is 1 hour long, it will take 1 hour to digitize it. Patrons using the Memory Cart should monitor their materials while they are being digitized. Plan ahead, bring a book or another project that can be worked on while you wait. 

The Library is not responsible for any damages incurred to patron materials during use of the Memory Cart.