Inspiration Labs

What are Inspiration Labs?

They are digital-media creation spaces at VPL's Central Library downtown and nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch in East Van.

Inspiration Labs are free-to-use places that combine traditional, digital and new media in custom-built spaces dedicated to digital creativity, collaboration and storytelling.

What’s in the Inspiration Labs?

Inspiration Labs are places to create and preserve stories through video, photos, sound, and self-publishing.

The labs vary in size (i.e. square footage) depending on the library branch you visit but all contain the following:

• recording studios
• creation and digitization stations
• collaboration and program spaces

How much does it cost to use an Inspiration Lab?

Inspiration Labs are free to use.

Can I book space in advance?

Bookings can be made up to two weeks in advance for both recording studios and digitization and creation stations. Walk-in bookings are also welcome.

How can I learn how to record, digitize and create in the Inspiration Labs?

Book a Recording Studio at the Central Library:

If you have a VPL library card, then you can book a session at an Inspiration Lab Recording Booth for free. Follow these steps to complete your online booking:

1. Click on “Proceed to studio booking” button below.
2. Select the date, studio, and time that you would like to book for and click “Reserve Now”
3. Enter your library card number and PIN, then click “Log In”
4. Fill out the form that follows and click “Next”
5. Review your booking details and click “Reserve”
6. You will receive a message confirming your booking, as well as an email

Proceed to studio booking

Notes:

• You may receive a message after clicking “reserve” that your booking was not successful for a variety of reasons, please read the message and follow the instructions
• You can only book 1 session per day, for a maximum of 3 hours
• You can book up to two weeks in advance
• Each booking has a mandatory built-in period for staff to reset the room
• Manage your reservations by going to vpl.libnet.info/myreservations
• Bring a USB storage device to save your work.

Book a creation or digitization station at any Inspiration Lab location, or book recording studio at nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona

If you have a VPL library card, then you can book a session on one of our library computers or at nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona studio for free. Follow these steps to complete your online booking:

1. Navigate to our public booking interface: https://vpl-mpc.vpl.ca:34433/cire/signin.aspx
2. Log in using your library card number (14-digit number found on the back of your card) as your Username and your 4-digit PIN as your Password.
3. Select your Site, or library branch, whether Central or nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona. 
4. Select your Resource Type, or the kind of studio or station you are interested in, whether recording studio, creation station, digitization station or other.  
5. On the timeline to the right of the station you are interested in, click on your desired start time.
6. In the Booking Properties window that pops up, refine your Start Time if necessary and select your End Time. 
7. If you would like a receipt, click on the box to the right of Email booking receipt. 
8. Click Save to complete your booking. 

Proceed to computer booking

Notes:

• Bookings are automatically cancelled if you are not logged in within 10 minutes of your booking start time.
• If you are an Internet Access cardholder, then you can book a digitization station.
• Bring a USB storage device to save your work.
• Printing is not available from Inspiration Lab computers but you can save your files and reopen them for printing on one of our general use public computers.
• You can create bookings up to 2 weeks in advance for a maximum of 3 hours per day.

Recording studio missed bookings or late cancellations:

A missed booking occurs when the cardholder does not appear in the first 10 minutes of their studio booking and a late cancellation is one that occurs less than 24 hours before the scheduled studio booking. 

Repeated missed bookings are subject to suspended use of the studios.