Librarian I/Senior Associate Jefferson Parish Library
The public library’s multimedia section is often a haven for contemporary formats, with DVD, Blu-Ray, and even online streaming having replaced VHS and older media. As patrons become less familiar with using home movie formats such as VHS-C, miniDV, and small-gauge film, the public library can help educate on the importance of understanding these unique forms and their present uses. This poster will discuss the presenter’s experience designing and executing a program centered on practical preservation strategies for small-gauge film and tape-based home movies and integrating it into an existing film screening series. It will explore the possibilities of layered, actionable programming and suggest ways in which public libraries can use their defunct or vaulted collections to excite and engage community members. Results from a survey of program attendees will also be discussed.