Public Libraries & the Public Song Project

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It — “Public Libraries & the Public Song Project”

Host: Kusha Navadar, filling in for Alison Stewart
Date: April 3, 2024
Episode Focus: How public libraries are supporting creativity and accessibility for musicians participating in WNYC’s Public Song Project, highlighting their unique resources, recording studios, instrument lending, and educational support.

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Main Theme

This episode dives into the myriad ways public libraries in and around New York City empower the community—especially aspiring musicians—by providing free or low-barrier access to musical instruments, recording studios, educational programs, and collaborative spaces. The conversation aims to inspire listeners to participate in the 2024 Public Song Project using these library resources, reminding everyone of the powerful role libraries play in fostering local creativity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Public Song Project & Library Resources (01:39)

• Encouragement to Participate: The submission deadline for the Public Song Project is six weeks away. Host Kusha Navadar emphasizes that entries can be as simple as a phone recording, but libraries can help people “step things up” if they wish ([01:39]).
• Highlight: Last year’s winner, Alice Lee, borrowed a banjo from the Brooklyn Public Library for her entry, showcasing library impact on creative work.

2. Brooklyn Public Library: Instrument Lending & Inspiration

Guest: Christine Schoenhart, Director, Central Library, BPL ([03:15])

• Musical Instrument Lending Library:

  • Over 100 instruments available (bass guitars, keyboards, steel drum, etc.)
  • “There is a bit of a wait list on things. So get on the wait list so that you can get your song recorded.” — Christine Schoenhart ([03:31])
  • Anyone in NY State can get a Brooklyn library card and borrow instruments for three weeks ([04:08])
  • Online system (bklynlibrary.org) allows holds; pick up at third floor arts department ([04:15])

• Sheet Music & Vinyl Collections:

  • Library provides thousands of books full of sheet music for inspiration
  • Recently launched a vinyl collection (400 records across genres), with in-library record players available; vinyls also loaned for three weeks ([04:43])
  • “We also have books here that can teach you how to play. So if you're new and need some of that, we can hook you up with that as well.” — Christine Schoenhart ([03:31])

3. New York Public Library: Recording Studios & Education

Guest: Jenna Lee, Lead Media Lab Specialist, NYPL ([05:21])

• Studio Locations & Access:

  • Main facility: Studio 40, Mid-Manhattan branch on 40th St & 5th Ave
  • Additional studios in the Bronx (Allerton Multimedia Studio, Tremont Sound Lab) for adults; several teen recording studios in various branches ([05:35])
  • Collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library: “We have a couple of our students coming in with musical instruments that they've rented from Brooklyn Public Library and they're using them on projects over here.” — Jenna Lee ([06:19])

• Technology & Equipment:

  • Studios equipped with “industry quality gear,” including professional microphones (U87, TLM102), outboard gear (LA2A, 1176), patch bays, workstation software (Avid ProTools, Ableton, Logic Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, DaVinci Resolve), and MIDI keyboards ([06:52])
  • Differentiated spaces and equipment for adults and teens; “a really well stocked set of spaces” ([08:04])

• Education, Support, and Community:

  • Staff provide orientations, equipment training, and run classes—both in-person and online—on everything from basic sound checks to advanced mixing and editing ([08:19])
  • “We also have creative media open labs. … You can talk to us and consult with us. … We have trained up a cohort of volunteers … They are helping, helping facilitate studio sessions alongside us.” — Jenna Lee ([09:44])
  • Volunteer program includes 25- to 72-year-olds supporting a multi-generational creative space ([10:35])
  • Online resources:
    • Adults: nypl.org/computers
    • Teens: nypl.org/spotlight/teen-center

4. Westport Public Library (Connecticut): Verso Studios

Guest: Brendan Tolar, Marketing Manager, Verso Studios ([12:04])

• Verso Studios Overview & Facilities:

  • “Here at the Westport Library, it's like a spaceship. We have Verso Studios really as our production resource and media hub.” — Brendan Tolar ([12:22])
  • Offers concert/film venue, post-production stations (audio, video, design), and a professional recording studio featuring an SSL board by Rob Verboni (designer for Keith Richards, Bob Dylan) ([12:22])
  • No residency/library card requirement; open to all interested ([13:28])

• Support for Users:

  • “Me and two other professionals are kind of roaming the building during certain hours to assist.” — Brendan Tolar ([13:15])
  • Direct assistance with recording, editing, and mixing is available

• Upcoming Event — Verso Fest:

  • Five days (April 3–7) of events: talks (Chuck D), concerts (The Lemon Twigs, Spin Doctors), conference, record fair, Bowie exhibit
  • “There really is something for everyone.” — Brendan Tolar ([13:48])
  • Event details: westportlibrary.org/versofest; Verso Studios info: westportlibrary.org/verso

5. Shout-Outs to Other Regional Libraries (14:31)

• East Brunswick Public Library (NJ): Offers a recording studio with editing software. Info at ilove.ebpl.org ([14:31])
• Newark Public Library: Their Makerspace features an audio booth and editing suites. More at made.npl.com ([14:31])
• All resource links and Public Song Project info available at: wnyc.org/publicsongproject

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Get on the wait list so that you can get your song recorded.”
  — Christine Schoenhart, on Brooklyn Public Library’s instrument lending ([03:31])

• “We have a couple of our students coming in with musical instruments that they've rented from Brooklyn Public Library and they're using them on projects over here.”
  — Jenna Lee, illustrating inter-library collaboration ([06:19])

• “Our volunteer program, we have students ages 25 to 72 who are volunteering and giving back to their Community. It's a really beautiful, multi generational creative space.”
  — Jenna Lee, on NYPL’s creative labs ethos ([10:35])

• “Here at the Westport Library, it's like a spaceship. We have Verso Studios really as our production resource and media hub.”
  — Brendan Tolar ([12:22])

• “You don't even need to have a library card necessarily. And I don't think you need to be a Connecticut resident. I think we'll kind of accept anyone that comes in that is interested.”
  — Brendan Tolar, on Verso Studios’ inclusive access ([13:28])

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Important Timestamps

• 01:39 — Introduction to the Public Song Project, encouragement and practical tips
• 03:15 — Christine Schoenhart on Brooklyn’s instrument lending and sheet music resources
• 05:21 — Jenna Lee on NYPL’s recording studios, equipment, and educational support
• 12:04 — Brendan Tolar introduces Verso Studios in Connecticut
• 13:48 — Details on Verso Fest and its diverse programming
• 14:31 — Additional library studio shout-outs and redirects to resources
• 15:00 — Public Song Project submission reminder and website info

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Final Message & How to Get Involved

Listeners are urged to take advantage of these robust, accessible library resources to participate in this year’s Public Song Project and possibly be featured on WNYC alongside renowned artists. As the host says, “Now is your time to get involved for a chance to be featured on WNYC and alongside artists like the ones you've heard so far, plus Rhiannon Giddens, Bella Fleck, Roseanne Cash and many more. This is a party. We want you to be a part of it.” ([15:00])

Submissions deadline: May 12th
Central Resource: wnyc.org/publicsongproject

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This episode showcases the invaluable, often underappreciated role libraries play in democratizing arts, equipping creators of any background or age to make and share their music—and providing a vibrant, welcoming community for every creative New Yorker (and beyond).

Transcript

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[Brendan Tolar]

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[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

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[Host / Kusha Navadar]

This is all of it. I'm Kusha Navadar, filling in for Alison Stewart. As you heard in the last segment, we're six weeks out from the submission deadline for the 2024 Public Song Project. And if you're listening right now and you're still on the fence, you know you're thinking about what to record or how to do it. One great place to start is your local public library. Did you know that you can bar instruments from the Brooklyn Public Library? That's exactly what last year's Public Song Project winner, Alice Lee did for her version of the Prisoner song, which featured a banjo from the Brooklyn Public Library. Here's a quick clip. The Brooklyn Public Library and some other libraries also have recording studios that you can use for free. And hey, to be clear, your submission to the Public Song Project doesn't need to be more than a recording on your cell phone. But if you want to step things up, we want to help you learn how. So we're going to do a quick roundtable of resources for your song submissions. And we're featuring people from the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public, Libra, and the Westport Public Library in Connecticut. They're here to help you navigate your recording with the resources you need. So up first, Christine Schoenhart, director of the Central Library of the Brooklyn Public Library. Welcome to the show.

[Christine Schoenhart]

Thank you. Good to be here.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Good to have you. I finally picked up my BPL library card a few weeks ago, so shout out to that. The Brooklyn Public Library's really unique resource is the Musical Instrument Lending Library. How does that work and where is it?

[Christine Schoenhart]

It's located here at the Central Library at 10 Grand Army Plaza. We started it a few years back and we have over a hundred items in the collection, including bass guitars, keyboards, a steel drum, a little bit of everything. There is a bit of a wait list on things. So get on the wait list so that you can get your song recorded. And basically, yeah, you just need a library card to borrow. You get three weeks with it. We also have books here that can teach you how to play. So if you're new and need some of that, we can hook you up with that as well.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Do you need to be a Brooklyn resident?

[Christine Schoenhart]

No, you don't. You just need to have a Brooklyn card. And anybody in New York State is eligible for that.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

And how would you get on the waitlist that you mentioned?

[Christine Schoenhart]

There is on our website, bk lyn library.org you can search for the instrument you want and there'll be a little button that says placeholder. If it doesn't say that, it does mean it's available, but you still place a hold for it so that our staff can pull it for you. And then you come to Central Library, go to our third floor arts department, and they will get you the instrument for you.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

That's great. And Christine, I understand that you also have resources to help people choose a song, like sheet music and vinyl records. Is that right? What's in that collection?

[Christine Schoenhart]

Yeah, we do. We have thousands of books full of sheet music. Again, you can search them in our catalog or come in and a staff member will show you how to search the collection. And we recently launched a vinyl collection as well. That's about 400 records right now across all genres. If you don't have a record player at home, don't worry, we have them here at the library. So you can throw the record on and listen, get some inspiration from that too. But you also can borrow Those with your library card for three weeks.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

That's great. So One Stop Shop. Christine Schoenhart is the director of the Central Library of the Brooklyn Public Library. Thank you so much for coming on.

[Christine Schoenhart]

You're welcome.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

And next up we have Jenna Lee, the lead Media lab specialist for New York Public Library. Jenna, welcome to all of it.

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Thank you.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

So where is the NYPL's recording studio and how does it work?

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Well, we actually have a couple different recording studios at the New York Public Library. Our main location is Studio 40, which is at the newly renovated Mid Manhattan branch on 40th street and 5th Avenue right across from the Lyons Building. But we also have a couple other studios up in the Bronx. We have an Allerton Multimedia Studio and the Tremont Sound Lab at Allerton and Tremont branches for adults. And then we also have some teen recording studios. We have a studio downstairs at the Mid Manhattan Library which is for, for folks who are ages 13 to 8, 13 to 19. And we have some Best Buy teen centers which are located at Grand Concourse, Parkchester and Mott Haven. And actually, I'm glad Christine mentioned the Brooklyn Lending Program because we have a couple of our students coming in with musical instruments that they've rented from Brooklyn Public Library and they're using them on projects over here. So that's been fun to see that collaboration going on.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

That's great. And all of these different spaces, are they all equipped similarly? Are there specific differences like in the teen recording spaces? Is there any special equipment there?

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Yeah. So the two recording studios at the Mid Manhattan Library are probably our largest studios. We have a lot of industry quality gear. We're mostly in the box studio, but we also have outboard gear like LA2A 1176 for compression and a patch bay to help folks figure out signal flow in the studio in a good learning environment. We run UAD Console and Avid Pro Tools as well as Ableton and Logic Pro. So a lot of studio quality microphones, U87, TLM102, stuff like that. So a lot of really wonderful microphones and pieces of equipment here available at the, at the central branches. As well as we have workstations and MIDI keyboards, lots of different small recording booths like EKG214 and stuff up at Tremont branches, as well as access to various software including Logic Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, Ableton pro tools.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Wow.

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

DaVinci Resolve.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

That's a really well stocked set of spaces there. If somebody's listening right now and they're thinking that sounds great, what are all of those things are There experts available to help somebody use the studio and. And edit audio?

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Yeah, absolutely. So I think that's maybe, I mean, like, it's a free studio space, it's extremely popular. But I think one of the ways that we're really striving to serve public, public need and public request is with our educational programs. We teach folks how to run sound checks from basically zero to get a good solid recording, whether that's on your own with gear that you have or gear that you borrow from us as well as in the studio spaces. We do an orientation class to the studio space. We teach you how all the equipment works. If you're curious about all that mashup of letters and numbers and what it does and how it can help you make your song sound better, or how it can help you acclimate to a studio atmosphere, if you're interested in going into that more professionally. We have tons of classes that we offer online and in person, both at the Manhattan branch for teens, for adults. We also have creative media open labs. So if you're coming in and you're in the middle of your project and you're not really sure what the next step is, you can talk to us and consult with us. We have folks who can come one on one and help. We also have trained up a cohort of volunteers. So these are folks who came in a couple years ago and they've been training with us for a while and they learned some of the lingo, picked up some of the workflows and they are giving back to their community as well. And they are helping, helping facilitate studio sessions alongside us and sort of getting this apprenticeship training and we'll really help you navigate no matter what level you come in at. So even if you don't end up in a studio space with us, if you want to come to our classes even from the comfort of your own home, we have a lot of different things that we could go over, including how to pick the right microphone for your sound or basics in mixing using all sorts of professional DAWs and free digital audio workstations, how to produce a beat using this various free or paid for software, how to edit your videos, how to start a podcast A to.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Z. Oh, wow, that's great. So. And those folks are kind of paying it forward, right? That sounds pretty cool.

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Yeah, it's. It's been really exciting. Our intern. Well, they're not. Sorry, they're not interns. Our volunteer program, we have students ages 25 to 72 who are volunteering and giving back to their Community. It's a really beautiful, multi generational creative space space that's great and a lot of really invested folks.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

So how would folks go and you know, sign up for those spaces? Among many of the places that you, you mentioned, is there like a central resource folks can go to online maybe?

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Sure. Our website, our main website is nypl.org for adult services. If you go to nypl.org computers you'll be able to find all of our classes as well as our like information on the recording studios, what kind of stuff we going on there. And if you're looking for teen for teen spaces you can go to nypl.org spotlight teen center and sorry teen-center and you will be able to find resources on the various teen locations that we have throughout our branches.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Thank you so much. Jenna Lee is the lead media lab specialist for the New York Public Library. Jenna, thank you so much for joining. And lastly, thanks for having me. Thank you. And and lastly we're joined by Brendan Tolar who's the marketing manager of Versa Studios, that's the recording studio for the Westport Public Library in Connecticut. Brendan, welcome to the show.

[Brendan Tolar]

Hey, lastly but not leastly, how are you doing?

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Lastly but not leastly, saving among the best for last, I would say. Everyone's great. So great to have you. Listeners can record, edit, mix and master their song at Verso Studios, all for free. Can you tell me, Brendan, how Verso Studios fits into the umbrella of the West Public Library?

[Brendan Tolar]

Sure. Here at the Westport Library, it's like a spaceship. We have Verso Studios really is our production resource and media hub. So we have a venue space, you know, where you can have concerts and film screenings. We have a three post production stations here where you can edit and mix your songs and edit and mix movies and films and you know, make illustrations and designs. And we also have a recording studio with an SSL board that was designed by Rob Verboni who famously designed Keith Richards Studio and Bob Dylan in the Band Studio in la.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

So not, not too shabby, not too shabby at all. And similar thing that I was asking Jenna, are there experts available to help somebody use the studio and edit audio if they're not super familiar?

[Brendan Tolar]

We're very high in demand and popular. But yes, me and two other professionals are kind of roaming the building during certain hours to assist.

[Casual Speaker / Nephew]

Great.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

And who's it open to? Do you have to be a Connecticut resident?

[Brendan Tolar]

You don't even need to have a library card necessarily. And I don't think you need to be a Connecticut resident. I Think we'll kind of accept anyone that comes in that is interested. So yeah, that's wonderful.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

And you also have some exciting programming coming up at the library starting tomorrow. It's called Verso Fest. That's a very cool name. Before we go, do you want to talk about what Verso Fest is and who's involved?

[Brendan Tolar]

Absolutely. Versofest, April 3rd through the 7th. That's five days of music, media and creativity. Tomorrow we're having a talk with Chuck D. Then the Lemon Twigs are coming, Spin Doctors. And then Saturday and Sunday is like a full on conference. There's a record fair, David Bowie Diamond Dogs exhibit. Tony Visconti will be talking with Paul Cavalcante, John Denore, Audrey golden, who just wrote Women at Factory Records. There really is something for everyone. So I encourage everyone to go to westport library.org Verso Fest. And if you're interested in Verso Studios, that's westportlibrary.org Verso and we want to.

[Host / Kusha Navadar]

Shout out Lemon Twigs, who are part of the public song project. And Brennan, I just want to point out Spin Doctor is very cool. My first favorite song was the Spin Doctor song. So shout out to you for having great musical taste there, Brendan. Brendan Tol is the marketing manager of Verso Studios at the Westport Public Library. Brendan, thank you very much. Thank you and New Jersey listeners. We haven't forgotten about you. The East Brunswick Public Library offers a recording studio with lots of equipment and audio editing software. Just go to ilove.ebpl.org to find out more. That's EBPL and Newark residents can check out the Newark Public Library and their Makerspace studio featuring an audio booth with Pro Tools Audacity, other editing software for audio. For more info there, go to made.npl.com and you can also find links to all these resources and more on our own website at all of it, along with instructions on how to participate, how to stream songs from our special guest contributors like they Might Be Giants, who we just heard in the last segment. So to find out all of that, go to wnyc.org publicsongproject Listen. Now is your time to get involved for a chance to be featured on WNYC and alongside artists like the ones you've heard so far, plus Rhiannon Giddens, Bella Fleck, Roseanne Cash and many more. This is a party. We want you to be a part of it. Submissions are due May 12th. Again, the website wnyc.org publicsongproject you can get all the info there. We're so excited to hear your songs.

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Surprise. Beach day.

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

No excuses.

[Bic Soleil Razor Advertiser]

I'm in. Gimme five. With Bic Soleil Glide Razor. You'll have hydrated smoothie skin that's ready to go on the fly. No shave cream needed. You can prep, shave and hydrate all in one step thanks to moisture bars that hydrate your skin during and after shaving. 5 flexible blades hug your skin for a close shave. Glide into smooth. It's your time to shine with Bixsol a buy now at Amazon and Walmart. Ready? Your skin looks amazing. So smooth and beach ready.

[Christine Schoenhart]

Let's go.

[Casual Speaker / Nephew]

I' ma put you on, nephew.

[Brendan Tolar]

All right, unc.

[McDonald's Employee / Jenna Lee]

Welcome to McDonald's. Can I take your order, miss?

[Casual Speaker / Nephew]

I've been hitting up McDonald's for years. Now it's back. We need snack wraps. What's a snack wrap? It's the return of something great. Snack wrap is back.