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About the Media Center

Location and Contact Information

Suzzallo Library, 3rd floor
Box 352900
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-2900

phone: 206-543-6051
email: medialib@uw.edu or use the request form

Library Map | Campus Map

History & Mission

The UW Libraries Media Center was founded in 1972 and located on the mezzanine level of Odegaard Undergraduate Library. In June 2012 the Media Center departed Odegaard to make way that library's renovation. It found a new home in the UW Libraries' mother-ship, Suzzallo Library.

Over those first two decades the Media Center had many media formats come and go: 8-tracks, laser discs, reel-to-reel tapes. Despite these and other changes, the Media Center has remained dedicated to carrying out the UW Libraries' [slightly modified] mission:

To advance intellectual discovery and enrich the quality of life by connecting people with [av] knowledge.

Collections

The Media Center is largest academic audio/video/film collection in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more about its collections, click here.

Facilities

The Media Center has media viewing stations available outside its service desk in Suzzallo Library. This equipment is intended for viewing of and listening to Media Center recordings. Equipment includes:

  • combo DVD\VHS players with large screen TVs;
  • multi-region DVD playback on PC computers (use VLC Player);
  • tri-standard VHS player (plays PAL, SECAM, and NTSC videos);
  • audio cassette player and 33/45/78 rpm turntable;
  • an archival jukebox that includes recordings from the Chamber Dance Company Collection and the Crocodile Cafe Collection.

Note: if you want to digitize a VHS tape or are looking to make a movie using media production hardware and software (e.g., Final Cut Pro, iMovie), visit the Odegaard Learning Commons Tech Help Desk on the 2nd floor of Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

Staff

The Media Center is staffed by 4 FTE and many sharp/dedicated students. Staff members include:

Ashley Farley
Library Tech III
farleyas [at] uw [dot] edu

Amy Halligan
Library Supervisor
apx [at] uw [dot] edu

Heather Spence
Library Tech Lead
starr13 [at] uw [dot] edu

John Vallier
Librarian & Head of Distributed Media Services
vallier [at] uw [dot] edu