DIY Digi Lab

DIY Digi Lab room, including glasstop table with desktop computer, two chairs, flatbed scanner, cotton gloves, loose leaf binder, CRT monitor, and audiovisual playback equipment
Sun 1:30 - 4:30
Mon Closed
Tue 1:30 - 4:30
Wed 1:30 - 4:30
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 2 - 5
Mon Closed
Tue 2 - 5
Wed 2 - 5
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Digitize your personal archives with SFPL's new workstation.
You can digitize:

Click on any of the above links to download a PDF of the digitization workflow for that format.

Why doesn’t the DIY Digi Lab have the capacity to digitize vinyl records?
The DIY Digi Lab prioritizes the digitization of personal archives over commercially produced materials. There are very few instances of non-commercially produced vinyl records. Most audiovisual formats, such as cassettes and film, can be purchased blank, allowing the consumer to fill the media with whatever they choose. Vinyl records, however, cannot be produced at home and in almost all cases their contents are under copyright.

Before your visit
  • Make an appointment online.
  • Have a valid SFPL library card.
  • Download and review the digitization workflows for the formats you will be bringing into the Lab.
  • Inspect all audiocassettes and videotapes for mold or other contaminants. Please do not bring any contaminated tapes into the DIY Digi Lab, as they will not be allowed into our equipment.
About appointments
  • Appointments can be booked up to 30 days in advance so that new appointments regularly become available.  
  • If there are no appointments available, please check back. There is no waitlist.
  • After you book an appointment, you will receive a confirmation via email.
  • Appointments are three hours long to accommodate for real-time digitization of materials.
  • Limit of two appointments per month.
  • Appointment cancellations must be received at least 24 hours in advance, to allow others time to book your spot.
  • There is a one-hour grace period for late arrivals; after one hour, the remaining Lab session time will be made available to walk-in users.
  • Users who fail to come to their scheduled appointment more than one time will have DIY Digi Lab privileges suspended for one month.
  • The Lab computer does not have access to cloud storage or the Internet.
What to bring
  • Items to digitize.
  • USB flash drive or other portable USB storage device with enough space to hold your digitized files.
    • Storage devices should be compatible with Mac OS or compatible with both Mac OS and Windows, specifically formatted as ex-FAT or FAT32.
    • Right-click on your storage device and select "Get Info" on Mac or "Properties" on PC to check how your drive is formatted.
    • Drives formatted for use with Apple's Time Machine are not compatible with our system.
  • Use this document to format your storage device to be compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
When you arrive
  • Go to the Government Information Center Desk on the 5th floor and ask for the DIY Digi Lab staff.
Rules & Guidelines
  • You must check-in and check-out with a DIY Digi Lab staffer at the beginning and end of your appointment. 
  • You must sign a Participant Release Form before starting your first session. The form will be provided when you arrive.
  • Maximum two people in the Lab.
  • No food or drink in the Lab, including covered containers. No exceptions.
  • There is no Internet access on the Lab computer.
  • If you need help during your session, please go to the Government Information Center Desk and ask for the DIY Digi Lab staff.
  • It is a DIY (do-it-yourself) lab, so our help is limited to brief orientation and troubleshooting.
  • Do not leave the Lab unattended for more than 10 minutes during your appointment. If you need to leave for a few minutes, please shut the door and tell the staff at the Government Information Center desk.
  • Digi Center reserves the right to refuse any item that might introduce mold or other contaminants into our equipment. Please inspect your materials for contamination before bringing them into the DIY Digi Lab.

Enjoy accessing and preserving your memories!