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Girls Rock Dublin & Dublin City Libraries have teamed up to offer teenagers a brand new and FREE music gear loan service: the GRD Gear Library!
You can now borrow one of our instruments, amps, pedal effects and accessories just like a book. 

Join us on Zoom tomorrow for a social gathering. That's Wednesday 6th, at 10.30am, on Nollaig na mBan, everyone is welcome. Please get in touch with the library at [email protected]

Get ready to be creative in the wonderful new recording studios located in Ballyfermot Library and soon to be available for library patron use! Aspiring musicians, podcasters, film makers, broadcasters even, take note, our Creative Studio is about to excite and delight! What is the Creative Studio?It is a digital maker space facilitating the creation of music recordings, podcasts, videos, digital stories and oral histories. And more besides. At the centre of this space are two recording booths providing library patrons with access to a variety of audio and video recording equipment and software.What can I do in the Creative Studio?So much! For example,Record a music track, a song, create a demo.Get some band practice in.Deliver a Facebook Live event, be it a live music performance, an interview with a local celebrity, artist, historian, or even a poetry reading.Record an audio or video podcast, could be an interview, a lecture, a group discussion.Record a video and upload to Youtube.What can I do now?Interested in using this wonderful new facility? You must first fill out the Creative Studio - Request to Use Facilities Form. We will then be in touch in due course to notify you of your scheduled induction session. You must complete the induction session and sign the Agreement Form in order to be able to book a session in one of the studios.The Studios:Creative Studio #1: 3150mm (10'4") x 2250mm (7'5") Capacity 1-6 peopleCreative Studio #2: 4950mm (16'4") x 3150mm (10'4") Capacity 2-8 peopleAbove: The smaller of the two recording booths, Studio #1.Equipment:The mix of equipment for each includes some or all of the following:-Microphones  (stand, table mounted) with pop filter shock mountsStudio headphonesBehringer AMP800 Mini Amp 4 Channel Stereo Headphone Distributor AmplifierStudio monitors (speakers)4 channel or 8 channel Focusrite Scarlett audio interface. Ideal for multi-instrumentalists, producers and small bands who want to record audio from a wide range of sources such as drums, guitars, keyboards and vocals.Cinema Camera 4K + tripodLogitech C615 HD 1080p webcamLED lightingGreen screeniMac computers, 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display.Software included - Final Cut X video editing software, Logic Pro X music making software, GarageBand, Audacity.Studio Use:A booking of a recording booth may be made by patrons aged 15 years and older with a valid public library card from any library authority in the country. Any person wishing to make a booking must have completed the mandatory induction session in advance and signed an Agreement Form.Right: The larger of the two studios. View larger image.The minimum session length is 50 minutes; the maximum 2 hours and 50 minutes. Musicians, important to note, you will need to bring your own musical instruments.Please take note also - while basic assistance may be provided, the studios are essentially self-service. You will need some level of familiarity with recording equipment, iMac computers and the software provided. We will provide you with some help files and links to further resources.Read the full Terms and Conditions...Induction Session:Attendance at an induction session is required in advance for anyone wishing to book a recording studio. The session provides an overview of the recording studio equipment and usage procedures. Upon completion of the session participants will be required to sign the agreement form in order to be added to the list of those authorized to make a booking on behalf of themselves or a group.Visit the Creative Studio main page for more information.

Instrument Carousel - a partnership between Girls Rock Dublin and Dublin City Libraries was a smash hit with all the teenagers in Pearse Library on Culture Night last Friday. Instrument Carousel was an opportunity for participants to explore their musical potential.It marks the launch of the “GRD Gear Library”, the gear loan service designed for teenagers by Girls Rock Dublin & Dublin City Libraries. Sixteen teenagers took over the Library in a fun & loud experiment involving electric guitars, basses, synths, keyboards & drums. By moving through different rooms and engaging with GRD coaches, participants learned a song on each instrument, and finished by performing the song together.Girls Rock Dublin is a non-profit, volunteer-led organisation that builds girls’ self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, GRD creates leadership opportunities, cultivates a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourages social change and the development of life skills. ​From Culture Night any teenager who is a member of Dublin City Libraries can borrow their preferred instrument for three weeks. All you need is your library card!Teenagers will need the signature of a parent or guardian when completing the membership form. Their parent or guardian will need to bring photo I.D. and proof of address. Get access to great online resources, borrow books, DVDs and now musical instruments! There are no fines and you can use your card in any library in Ireland.    Joining is easy. Call into Pearse Street library and borrow what you like. The GRD Gear Library is a collection of  instruments, amplifiers and musical accessories that Girls Rock Dublin are now making available through Dublin City Libraries all year round.     The collection is made up of donated gear from people in the community who value the work of Girls Rock Dublin and from purchases made from funding received with thanks to ​Reverb.com​. GRD Gear Library also welcome donations of 'gear'.The library is an ongoing project, more pics from Culture Night 2019 on flickr. Dublin City Libraries are free,fun and easy to use. Find out more.       

This Culture Night marks the beginning of a fantastic opportunity for teenagers to borrow a musical instrument from Dublin City Libraries. Dublin City Libraries and Girls Rock Dublin are proud to present “GRD Gear Library”, the gear loan service designed for teenagers under 18 and launching on Culture Night with “Instrument Carousel”. Girls Rock Dublin is a non-profit, volunteer-led organisation that builds girls’ self-esteem through music creation and performance. On 20 September at 6pm 16 teenagers will take over Pearse Street Library in a fun and loud experiment involving electric guitars, basses, synths, keyboards, ukulele, glockenspiel, pedal effects and drums. By moving through different rooms and engaging with GRD coaches, participants will learn a song on each instrument, and finish by performing the song together. This is open to teenagers of all genders. From Culture Night any teenager who is a member of Dublin City Libraries can borrow their preferred instrument for three weeks. All you need is your   library card! . Dublin City Libraries are free, fun and easy to use. Joining is easy and completely free. Get  access  to  great  online  resources, borrow  books, DVDs and now musical instruments. There are no fines and you can use your card in any library in Ireland.The GRD Gear Library is a collection of instruments, amplifiers and musical accessories that Girls Rock Dublin use for their summer camp and events and are now making available throughout Dublin City Libraries all year round. Teenagers will need the signature of a parent or guardian when completing the membership form. Their parent or guardian will need to bring photo I.D. and proof of address.Take a look at the instrument gallery, then call into Pearse Street library and borrow what you need! Email Pearse Street Library to make a booking.The collection is made up of donated instruments from people in the community who value the work of Girls Rock Dublin and purchases made through funding from ​Reverb.com​.It's is an ongoing project so donations are welcome! 

Our featured online resource this week is Freegal ,a free music service which offers access to about 15 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists, and over 40,000 music videos.The Freegal Music website has thousands of artists, tens of thousands of albums, and millions of songs.In total the collection is comprised of music from over 40,000 labels with music that originates in over 100 countries. There is no software to download, and there are no digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. Dublin City Public Library users have unlimited streaming and can download 5 songs per week. All you need is your library card number and PIN. Go to https://dcpl.freegalmusic.com/ or download the free App from Google Play or the Apple Store  

Dublin City Public Libraries invites applications for Musician(s) in Residence from individuals or groups.  The residency is envisaged as part-time, to engage with different age groups to compose, produce and perform music at the Central Library’s Music Service, other Dublin City Public Libraries and in other Dublin City Council venues as required. The groups will be identified and selected by Dublin City Public Libraries.Applicants should submit an expression of interest to include the following:A two page summary CV outlining experience and achievements to date relevant to the requirements of the residency programme.A one page list of work such as images, recordings, written word and web links.A two page residency proposal outlining: proposed activities and engagements for a six month duration.Name and contact details of two referees (one from a current or most recent employment role) with permission to contact them.Please email your expression of interest to: [email protected] by 5pm on Tuesday April 3rd, 2018.Download further details Musician in Residence (PDF, 253KB)The Musicians in Residence programme is managed by Dublin City Public Libraries. 

What type of music do you like... classical, folk jazz, world? At the click of a mouse, you can now listen to your favourite pieces on demand or find out about your favourite composer. Naxos Online Music Library will allow you to do just that.If interested in accessing this service, you should call in person to the Music Library, Ilac Centre, where you will be given a user name and password, and you can then access the service remotely online or in the library.The Music Library, T. 8734333. E. [email protected]