By Cade Taylor
Staff Writer
The Cameron University Digital Media Lab, located in the library, allows students free access to high-grade equipment, and instructors to help operate the equipment.
James Scholz, the Assessment and Instruction Librarian at Cameron University, helped create the Digital Media Lab.
During his first year at Cameron, Scholz was asked if he had any ideas for improvement and he suggested the Media Lab. When the lab opened in 2017, it featured 12 items for students, mainly audio visual equipment consisting of only cameras, tripods, camcorders and audio recorders.
Now, the Digital Media Lab has over 28 different products for students to experiment with. Scholz said that they have new equipment this year.
“We have two very high- end Dell laptops, which both have the full adobe creative suites that are new,” Scholz said.
“So, that’s a total of 24 software programs, plus about a half-dozen other various software programs for Digital Media
Production. We also got a couple new Nikon D750 cameras, which are very high-end digital cameras.”
Features available in the lab include equipment to record podcasts, photo scanners, a 3D printer, tracing tables and even a green screen room with its own lighting kit available.
Everything inside the Media Lab is accessible to all Cameron University students and staff, and reservations are unnecessary.
Giving students access to free equipment allows them the opportunity to further their creativity and education without spending money.
Cameron University Senior Shawnda Westlund, said she loved using the Media Lab.
“It allows me to be creative without having to spend a ton of money,” Westlund said. “When I first started doing photography, being able to check out a nice camera came in handy until I was able to buy my own.”
Students can check out items for 72 hours.
Items such as DSLR cameras, full HD camcorders, go pros, tripods, recording devices, led projectors, video and camera stabilizers, three- point light kits, Huion art tablets and Wacom art tablets are available for checkout.
Along with Scholz, the lab keeps a staff of four student aids, all of which have their own areas of expertise.
There is always someone available in the lab and ready to assist when problems arise.
The lab is expecting to receive new equipment by the end of the semester, consisting of a brand new Glowforge laser cutter, Oculus Go 3D headsets, and the possibility of drones.
The Digital Media Lab is open at the same hours as the Cameron Library.
For more information, contact the media lab at (580) 581-5048.