New Digital Media Commons space offers video, photography and audio-recording studios

Fondren Library’s Digital Media Commons (DMC), which supports the creation and use of multimedia in education, scholarship and artistic expression at Rice, moved to the library’s basement floor this spring. On April 17, the commons will showcase its new space, features and services as part of Digital Scholarship Services’ open house from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Jane Zhao, right, and Nadalia Liu head up Fondren Library's Digital Media Commons. Photos by Jeff Fitlow

Located in Suite B42, the commons space boasts a new state-of-the-art video and photography studio with a green screen and professional lighting, a soundproofed audio-recording studio and a multipurpose room. These new features greatly enhance the DMC’s work of providing extensive support for creating multimedia, including training, equipment checkout and access to video-editing software, said Jane Zhao, commons director. The commons was previously located in Herring Hall.

“Once the word gets out, people will fall in love with the new studios,” Zhao said. “They are our dream spaces to have.” She oversees the commons together with Nadalia Liu, the DMC supervisor.

In addition to the studios, the commons provides free, short-term checkout of equipment, such as digital camcorders, HDV video cameras, digital cameras and lenses, audio equipment, tripods and a lighting kit. It also offers 16 workstations as well as hardware, software and personalized assistance to support a wide range of digital media projects, including audio and video editing, graphics and Web page creation and high-end scanning options for documents and images.

Rachel Hodge (left), a Lovett College junior majoring in biochemistry and cell biology, receives information on how to use the commons' poster printer.

The DMC is part of Rice’s Digital Scholarship Services, which  provides support for creating and managing digital resources, multimedia training, creating and using digital maps, access to government information, including patents and trademarks, data management planning and archiving, and assistance with digital projects and grants.

In addition to the DMC, visitors to the open house can tour other Digital Scholarship Services spaces in Fondren’s basement, including the Digital Curation Lab, GIS/Data Center and Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services. Light refreshments and door prizes will be provided.

For more information about the DMC’s services and checkout policies, go to http://library.rice.edu/services/dmc.