Remember when today's old technology was new?

I'm talking about things like cassette tapes and VHS tapes. If you are young enough you may have a hard time comprehending the idea that these antiquated mediums were the latest thing once upon a time.

While cassette tapes were born in the 60s, it wasn't until the 70s they came into full public use and were all the rage in the 80s with the advent of the Walkman.

The 70s and 80s also brought the arrival of VHS tapes and VCRs. We started setting the VCR to record our favorite shows on TV, and we started collecting a video library of home videos, family photos, and wedding videos.

So how many of us have a box or two of old VHS tapes out in the garage, in a closet, our in the shed, or up on the rafters, figuring we will never again have an opportunity to relive all of these precious memories.

Thankfully, digital conversion services are now available that allow you to take these old videos and cassette and convert them to a digital format. All you have to do is pay someone with the equipment to do the work.

But, now, you can do the conversion yourself, and it won't cost you anything more than the expense of a flash drive to store your photos and videos on. All you need is a little bit of technical comprehension and a Mesa County Library card.

Digital conversion is now available at the Mesa County Libraries central location in Grand Junction. They won't do it for you, but they will show you how to use the equipment they so you can do it yourself. You can convert VHS and cassette tapes, old photos, negatives, slides, floppy discs, media cards, and vinyl.

All you have to do is go into the library, get a library card if you don't yet have one, and then schedule a time to come in and work at the digital conversion station. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, there is a limit to the amount of time you can spend on the equipment. The conversion process happens in real time, which means if you are converting a two-hour video, it's going to take you two hours to get it done.

Digital conversion is another of the many expanding amenities being offered by the Mesa County Libraries. If you haven't been to the library lately, you need to find some time to go in and check it out. In the meantime, dig out some of those old VHS tapes or your favorite cassette tapes and get ready to bring them into the 21st Century.

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