Lights … camera … action ... in the library?

The recently refurbished Multimedia Production Facility tucked away in the Volpe Library is now prepped to offer students, faculty and staff more equipment and services along with an improved studio. The facility has provided video production for classroom lectures and student projects since the library opened in 1989, but the fresh look is prompting its staff to encourage everyone on campus to consider taking advantage of multimedia offerings.

The studio portion of the Volpe Library's Multimedia Production Facility

"We encourage any faculty member, staff member or student who has a need or an interest in video production to come by and visit our facilities," says Pat McGee, Volpe Library's coordinator of media services.

The studio, equipped with two digital cameras, has received a lighting upgrade and carpeting. The facility offers users the ability to add chroma key and to create a virtual studio, where images are added to the background during production.

Currently one psychology class meets in the studio to tape lectures once a week. This is just one suggested use for the facility. In the past, students produced a news show that aired on campus through ResNet.

Gary Bradford, electronic equipment technician, guides faculty, staff and students through the taping and editing process. Bradford, a former engineer in charge of studio production at local PBS station WCTE, has more than 20 years of broadcast television experience.

"This is a multimedia facility where we want people to feel comfortable and welcome," says Bradford. "We provide training, advice and help to anyone on campus who wants to use our studio, equipment and services."

The facility's non-linear editing bay

Bradford says the staff is exploring new possible uses for the facility.

"We are working to provide streaming video so that faculty members can provide lectures over a library network or the Internet."

The facility offers dozens of services beyond studio production. They include linear and non-linear editing, equipment checkout, scanning services, audio and video clips to streaming media conversion, and text documents to digital format conversion. All formatting of materials must follow U.S. Code, Title 17 copyright law.

The Multimedia Production Facility, located on the first level of the Volpe Library, Room 132, is available from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no charge for services or studio time.

To learn more about the facility or to schedule studio time, call Bradford at 3413 or McGee at 3544.