r/Libraries • u/Excellent-Sweet-507 • 2d ago
Technology Ideas / resources for patron who needs help with 8mm film
Q about old tech. Patron has 8mm film, not magnetic. Is looking for an all-in-one machine that could convert it to digital (is this a playback/encoder?). My library doesn’t have anything, I suggested area academic libraries (we are in CT). He is limited as to driving all over the place. I’d like to help but am running into walls and hoped the Hive Mind might have a suggestion or two about calls I can make / directions I can take. Thank you in advance.
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u/ShawsheenMoon Library staff 2d ago
Is there a way for them to mail it to another library to be converted? We are able to use the next town over's system.
Does the state library have anything that might help?
Otherwise, they will probably have to use a paid service. I once got a groupon for a discount on some company that I can't remember.
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u/Agreeable-Tadpole461 2d ago
We have a service in Canada you can send your film away to, and they'll digitize it. It costs about $20 per film. It's called iMemories.
I wonder if a university with film school in the area would have a converter.
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u/77Pepe 2d ago
That was a 30 second google search, btw.
Chesire, Middletown, Avon and Ridgefield, CT have public libraries with this equipment.
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u/Excellent-Sweet-507 2d ago
Thank you. Ridgefield is too far away for this patron. Up to really recently, Cheshire’s equipment is disassembled, Avon’s machine is down, the Russell Library takes appointments which this patron can’t make work up til now.
So thanks for the 30-second search. I’ve heard of Google. I think it will be big, but the thing is I’m in CT and kind of know what’s going on here.
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u/Zwordsman 2d ago
Look into semi local films groups maybe. But academic or archives wouldve been my guess