“Dead Media,” from arcade games to typewriters, to take spotlight in Ann Arbor library event

After a year of planning, the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) will host its first-ever Dead Media Day, a celebration of bygone and endangered forms of media, on Oct. 12 at AADL’s downtown branch. Attendees can explore vintage TVs, VHS tapes, audio cassettes, film, cameras, video games, and more through vendor booths, hands-on demonstrations, and short talks throughout the day.

“We’ve got a bunch of nerds here at the library, me included, and we kept circling this idea of how to create an event surrounding these bygone forms of media and entertainment some of us grew up with and others were only vaguely aware of,” says Rich Retyi, AADL’s communications and marketing manager. “From old TVs and VHS to vintage video games and typewriters, we wanted to build something that could appeal to all ages and interests.”

Dead Media Day offers attendees a chance to experience or purchase vintage and obsolete media formats. In partnership with Marquee Arts and the Michigan Theater, the library will host activities like film splicing demonstrations, giving visitors a tactile glimpse into cinema history. From classic arcade games and gaming consoles to typewriter tables to a team repairing old computers, a variety of interactive experiences will be designed to engage both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

In addition to hands-on activities, Dead Media Day will feature around 20 vendors and exhibitors selling everything from VHS tapes and vintage video games to rare books and collectibles. Attendees can also learn about preserving and digitizing older media, with workshops and demonstrations from the Ann Arbor-based digitization studio The Memory Attic, as well as insights from the University of Michigan’s Digital Preservation Lab and Video Game Archive. The event is designed to spark curiosity and provide a mix of nostalgia and education for visitors of all ages.

“Part of this is nostalgia, letting people check out the things they grew up with, from VHS tapes to vintage games, while also giving younger generations a chance to see and experience these formats for the first time,” Retyi says. “Kids today are pretty up on the history of past media, so we think Dead Media Day will be appealing to anybody.”

Dead Media Day runs 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 12 at AADL’s downtown branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave. in Ann Arbor. The event is free to attend. You can see a full list of vendors and programming on the library’s website.

“The library is a little bit of something different for everybody, and that’s what we’re hoping this event is too,” Retyi says. “Let it wash over you. Play some video games, try your hand at splicing film, and enjoy all the media history we’ve brought together, all for free.”