Bark for Life uses Media Lab for monthly meetings

Bark for Life volunteers setting up for their monthly meeting in The Mercury's Media Lab.

Last night, a group of about 20 Bark for Life volunteers took advantage of our Media Lab and held their monthly meeting here. According to Sue Dudak, Bark for Life organizer and co-author of the TownSquare blog Bark Blog, the space is great for such a meeting.

"We had the space we needed to spread out and have everyone comfortable. There was plenty of room to have our paperwork and things needed for the meeting here (at the Media Lab). We used the counter for snacks. It's great to know that if we need the Internet to check anything, we have it. Parking was good. Everyone at The Mercury was so accommodating. We are so happy to be there."

The next Bark for Life meeting will be held in November. If you're interested in joining Sue and helping the Bark for Life organization, visit their website.

If you are interested in using the Media Lab for your organization's next meeting, contact Community Engagement Editor Diane Hoffman at 610-323-3000 ext. 156 or email. Use of the space is free for the community, but an appointment must be made in advance.

Welcome to The Mercury's Media Lab

The Mercury teamed with PDIDA for a grand opening celebration for the Media Lab and the new PDIDA visitor's center. From left, Edward Condra, Journal Register Co.’s senior publisher of Greater Philadelphi; Steve Buttry, JRC director of community engagement; Diane Hoffman, community engagement editor; Sue Repko, TownSquare blogger and PDIDA board member.

After months of preparation, on Friday, July 20, the Mercury had a grand opening celebration to open the new Media Lab, located in the Mercury at 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown.

You might be wondering, what can I do at the Media Lab? The answer is as simple as stopping by to use the computer to search for a job, help with blog set up, or as complex as having your organization host a webinar or a happy hour.

First visitors to the Media Lab came to use the computers to search for a job.

We welcome you to our Community Media Lab and look forward to meeting all of you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Diane Hoffman, community engagement editor, at 610-323-3000 ext. 156, or email dhoffman@pottsmerc.com

Slowly but surely, we're moving along

Before

During the last couple of weeks, we've been busy getting the Media Lab put together for our July 20 grand opening. The walls have been painted and new carpet installed.

After

Construction begins on the new Mercury Community Media Lab

Our current Media Lab.

In the beginning of May we announced that The Mercury was one of 12 newsrooms to receive funding for a new project - to update and open our Community Media Lab to the, well, community.

The Pottstown project will involve furnishing the former offices of the Penny Pincher adjacent to the main entrance of The Mercury at 24 N. Hanover St. with computers, a microfilm reader and furniture for daily use by the community as well as special events. The room to be refurbished is currently used as the Community Media Lab where bloggers meet for workshops. That use will be expanded and more community uses added. 

The first step in our plan is to remove the center cabinets.

First step, the center cabinets have been removed and will be re-purposed in the new lab.

We will be updating the progress of this project on this blog, so keep keep an eye out for future posts.