Michigan State University’s Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL) has officially opened, giving visitors a first-hand look at this innovative space, located on the second floor of MSU’s Main Library.
For the opening, the 10,000-square-foot lab, the result of a partnership between MSU Libraries and the College of Arts & Letters, hosted a number of events throughout the week of February 5-9, including tours, presentations, and demonstrations of the DSL’s state-of-the-art technology.
“This will be a place where a bunch of us who are interested in digital work can come together and think about what it means to critically engage in digital work,” said Maddie Shellgran, a first-year Ph.D. student in Rhetoric and Writing.
The Digital Scholarship Lab is a resource for students of all majors. The centerpiece of the lab is its 360-degree immersive visualization room designed by Igloo Vision, which is the first of its kind at any university in the United States.
The lab also features a virtual reality room with VR headsets, a dedicated room for digitization projects, and workstations with high-speed computers; large, curved monitors; and software to support sophisticated design and data analysis, including Adobe Creative Suite and 3D software like Rhino and Oculus.
“This state-of-the-art facility will elevate our widely recognized strengths in the digital arts and humanities. It is bound to be a destination for the best students and faculty from around the world.”
Visitors to the grand opening events were given a first glimpse into the capabilities of the lab through demonstrations of the 360-degree immersive visualization and virtual reality rooms as well as 3D scanning workshops.
“The library is the heart of the University, so we in the College of Arts & Letters were honored to collaborate with MSU Libraries to create such a dynamic and innovative space that offers access to equipment and experiences unavailable anywhere else in higher education,” said Christopher P. Long, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. “This state-of-the-art facility will elevate our widely recognized strengths in the digital arts and humanities. It is bound to be a destination for the best students and faculty from around the world.”
(Photo by Shelby Kroske)
“This is a really transformative space, both in the libraries and on campus,” said Terri Miller, Assistant Director for Public Services in the MSU Libraries. “There are so many opportunities to use this space.”
The Digital Scholarship Lab is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The lab also is offering extended hours after spring break. Beginning Monday, March 12, the hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.
For more information on the lab, including details about open consultation, visit the Digital Scholarship Lab website.
(Top banner photo by Shelby Kroske)
