Digital Media Lab

Explore -- Create -- Share

The Homewood Library Digital Media Lab is a creative technology studio available to Homewood patrons. Our top-of-the-line software and equipment will allow you to create high-quality projects in many different media.

Are you eligible to use the Lab?

• Do you have a valid Homewood Library card in good standing?
• Are you 16 or older with a valid driver's license, state ID, or passport?

If you answered yes to both questions, you are eligible to use the
Lab. Call us at 708-798-0121 ext. 232 to make an appointment!

DML User Guidelines
DML hardware/software

Music

The digital media lab is equipped to function as a personal recording studio. Bring your instrument, or use our 64-key midi keyboard and music creation software to record any type of song or sound you want right in the library. The DML is also great for recording interviews, podcasts or any other audio. If you're looking to record on the go, a portable digital recorder is available for checkout so you can record what you like and bring it back to the lab to add to your project.

Video

Take your videos to the next level or create high-quality music videos, short films, and video podcasts, then publish them on DVD or upload them to YouTube.  You can use your own video footage or check out a mini HD video camera, a portable shotgun microphone and a tripod to film something new. Bring your video to the lab to edit and add special effects. We have a green screen available for digitally inserting backgrounds as well.

Photography

The HPL Digital Media Lab has a Canon Rebel DSLR camera for taking high resolution photographs and a photo and slide scanner for those images you want to preserve. You can even make a poster-sized print with our large format printer. We also have Photoshop and a whole suite of photo manipulation tools available for you to use.

Illustration & Animation

Use a drawing tablet to input diagrams, sketches,  and comics and manipulate your creations with Adobe Illustrator, Manga Studio or any of the other programs we have. 2D or 3D animation is also possible.

Mixed Media Projects

Not sure which area to focus on? Why not mix them together? Make a video and record a voiceover track, turn a collection of video clips and still photos into a slideshow, or record a song and render a 3D animated music video. The only limit is your imagination.

Storage

Don't worry about not having enough time to finish a project.  We have 500gb portable hard drives available for checkout so you can keep your project saved for the next time you want to return to the lab and pick up where you left off.

Don't know where to start? 

• Make an appointment for a personal tour of the lab. A librarian will get you started in your exploration of possibilities
• Prefer to learn on your own? Reserve the lab and access one of the many tutorials available for you to learn at your own pace.  Our tutorials include:
  
  

  Get Started with GarageBand

  
  

  Get Started with iMovie

  Get Started with iPhoto

  Atomic Training

  •   Microsoft Office 2007: Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word
  •   Adobe products: Acrobat Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
  •   Open Office: Calc, Impress, and Writer
  •   Gimp
  •   Apple OS Lion
  •   Facebook

 Explore -- Create -- Share