West Vancouver, B.C.—West Vancouver has its own community recording studio now.
The West Vancouver Memorial Library formally opened its Recording Studio on Tuesday, May 2. The studio’s inaugural recording was made two weeks earlier by Tsitsáyxemaat Rebecca Duncan, Squamish Language and Cultural Teacher/Mentor, and her students from Xwemélch’stn Etsimxwawtxw Capilano Little Ones. They recorded the Squamish names of the native plants in the Library’s community demonstration garden, Swáy̓wi Temíxw. Listen here: wvml.ca/garden.
The studio, which is available for any WVML cardholder to use, features a selection of industry-standard equipment and software. Located in the Community Computing Centre on the Lower Level, the Recording Studio includes a Control Room and Live Room. The Control Room comfortably fits two people and is suited to recording podcasts or audiobooks, or for mixing and producing electronic music or video. The Live Room fits up to four people and is suited to recording a range of musical instruments and ensembles.
WVML Director Stephanie Hall says, “One of the things I truly admire about the WVML team is their strategic approach to introducing new technology. Starting from a place of our core values, they look at each new technology and ask ‘how will this help people in their lives?’ It’s not enough to just bring forward the newest, shiny tech. It has to make a difference for people.” At the opening event, Mayor Mark Sager agreed: “It’s the staff who make the difference—a project like this doesn’t happen without a lot of work.”
Library staff are offering a whole suite of programs, including mandatory orientation sessions, to get people ready for using the studio, its equipment, and software, as well as for creating and editing podcasts.
Assistant Director Sarah Felkar, who oversees technology initiatives at WVML, added, “We know that this studio will be a home for many other kinds of expression, from vocal, electronic, and instrumental music, to podcasts, audiobooks, voiceovers, oral histories and whatever else the imagination may bring.”
The Library’s Recording Studio is made possible through a combination of funding from the District of West Vancouver and the very generous bequest of Robert Leslie Welsh in support of music, expertly stewarded by the WVML Foundation. Mr. Welsh left $2.5 million to the Library when he died in 2000, and today, the Foundation still has the bulk of that principal carefully invested in order to continue providing benefit to our community over the long term.
To learn more and book the studio, visit wvml.ca/record. Studio time is available starting May 23. Patrons can also borrow take-home microphone kits from the Library.
– 30 –
Photos are available for download here: West Van library recording studio