Inspiration Lab - Podcasting
What is a podcast?
Podcasts are commonly described as on-demand internet radio talks. A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
Podcasting in the Inspiration Lab
The Inspiration Lab is a space dedicated to digital creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. We are located on level 3 at the Central branch of the Vancouver Public Library.
The Inspiration Lab features recording studios, a high-performance computer lab with audio, video and image editing software, as well as graphic design and self-publishing software. We also have analog-to-digital conversion stations for various forms of older media.
All our services are absolutely free with your library card!
Many people are coming in to use this space to make their podcasting dreams come true. Whether you are needing a place to record your podcast, edit your file once recorded, create some exciting podcast artwork or publish it online, the Inspiration Lab has you covered!
Inspiration Lab Booking
The Inspiration Lab is open during regular Central library hours.
Reserve a recording studio or drop in to use a computer workstation. If this will be your first time booking or you need a refresher on the process, review our booking instructions.
Free Media Sources
Looking for images, sounds, or videos to use in your Inspiration Lab project? Search for works without copyright restrictions (sometimes called "public domain"), or with licenses that permit reuse and/or modification (you may have heard of "Creative Commons" licensing).
Sometimes, the individual files on a website will each have different use restrictions. If you intend to share or modify someone else's work, or if you plan to use your final project commercially (ie. for profit) be sure to check for restrictions. Sometimes you will find these restrictions at the individual item level; sometimes at the website level. When in doubt, contact the copyright holder directly to ask permission.
Copyright Law:
Free Media Sources:
- Archive.org Community Audio - Public domain music and spoken word.
- Creative Commons Search - Search media sites across the internet for content made available for free reuse.
- The Flickr Commons - The key goal of The Commons is to share hidden treasures from the world's public photography archives.
- FreeSound - Public domain sound effects.
- Free Music Archive - Creative Commons and Public Domain music.
- Pixabay: Free Images - Free, downloadable stock images (except for the first line of Shutterstock images on each search page).
- Project Gutenberg - Project Gutenberg offers over 53,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online.
- Unsplash - The internet’s source of freely-usable images. Powered by creators everywhere.
- Wikimedia Commons - Images, sound, and video available for free reuse.
