Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University Libraries is launching construction this month on a new digital, high-definition television studio capable of filming, editing and producing high quality digital media video projects.
Located in Mitchell Memorial Library’s second-floor Digital Media Center, the area also will include a One Button Studio and flexible classroom space and group study space, all available for reservation by departments, classes or study groups this fall.
The addition is part of an ongoing Digital Media Center enhancement project funded by MaxxSouth Broadband, MSU’s Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication, Mitchell Memorial Library and others. Earlier expansion to this library center included the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Mixed Reality Lab, a makerspace, and upgraded multimedia lab computers.
The center is being renamed the MaxxSouth Broadband Digital Media Center in honor of the company’s support.
MSU Associate Dean for University Libraries Stephen Cunetto said this new studio will be used by the Department of Communication’s broadcasting program as its main facility for broadcasting courses. It also will be available to all students and faculty, with specialized training and staff assistance required in advance. The space will provide the facilities, tools and expertise needed to develop high quality videos from concept to production.
Cunetto said the technology provides a place for users to record video and presentations with “virtually no learning curve.” The One Button Studio, developed at Pennsylvania State University, allows users to begin recording a video by only clicking one button. Patrons may use the One Button Studio for recording or practicing presentations, lectures, tutorials and auditions, as well as presenting research.
This addition is another example of academic and research libraries providing faculty and students with access to the technology, software, services and expertise being requested by the academic community, Cunetto said. Similar facilities can be found at North Carolina State University Libraries, Emory University, University of Illinois and University of Kansas.
Construction will not cause any service interruptions, but noise in the area will be unavoidable at times. Because of this, group study spaces have been moved to an adjacent area.
“We are working with the contractors and all involved to keep interruptions to a minimum,” Cunetto said.
“We are very excited to be moving forward with this project after several years of planning, and we are grateful to our sponsors,” he said. “We hope everyone will bear with us as we undergo this new and exciting project that will benefit our faculty, staff and students.”
For more information on the Mississippi State University Libraries, its services and projects, visit http://lib.msstate.edu/dmc.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.