Audiovisual Studio policy

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August 2026

Policy Statement

Multnomah County Library is committed to providing training and access to technology that may not be widely available to everyone. To support this, the library has a dedicated Audiovisual Studio with state of the art equipment for community members to use during library events and programs with library staff and community partners. By offering access to a space and equipment for recording and making visual and audio content, the library empowers creative learning and promotes success in a digital world. 

Purpose of policy

This policy establishes how and under what circumstances the public may access and use the Audiovisual Studio. The policy addresses the space, equipment, and content created using the equipment. 

This policy is specific to the Audiovisual Studio and equipment and does not apply to the Creative Learning spaces and equipment. Creative Learning spaces and equipment are addressed in a separate policy. 

Access and Use Limitations

The Audiovisual Studio supports a range of users and learners from beginners to advanced. Library staff and community partners provide direct support to patrons as they explore and transform their creative visions. The space is designed for a variety of uses, including mixing and mastering recordings, rehearsals, video and photography projects, and archiving community stories. Users of the Audiovisual Studio must follow the rules below and adhere to the Audiovisual Studio User Agreement as well as the library rules and any other library policies. 

The Audiovisual Studio consists of a trio of spaces: Control Room, Audio Room, and Multimedia Room. The Audiovisual Studio can support small to medium-sized groups (up to 12 people). 

Rules and expectations

To allow for a welcoming and creative experience for all using the Audiovisual Studio, patrons must follow the rules below as well as show respect for each other, staff and other people’s projects and property. Participants under age 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and that adult must sign a user agreement before the participant under age 13 may participate in services. 

  • A designated library staff member or community partner must be present in order for patrons to use the Audiovisual Studio. 
  • Patrons must complete and sign the User Agreement before using the Audiovisual Studio. A responsible adult must complete and sign the User Agreement for patrons under 13.
  • No food or drinks are allowed inside the Studio.
  • The Studio enables its users to create a range of content, including through audio and video recordings. As a result, Studio users may capture audio and video recordings of other patrons visiting the Studio. By signing the User Agreement, patrons acknowledge that they may be recorded in the Audiovisual Studio and those recordings may be published or shared outside of the library by other patrons. 
  • Within the 12-person limit for the Audiovisual Studio, groups may not exceed the following maximum capacity for each room: 8 people in the control room,10 people in the audio room and 8 people in the multimedia room.
  • Library patrons are prohibited from using the library’s Audiovisual Studio to create content that is: 
    • Prohibited by local, state or federal law, including:
      • content that violates laws or regulations regarding accessing, viewing, printing and distributing obscenity or child pornography; 
      • material intended to harass, annoy or alarm another person through a written threat to inflict serious physical injury on the person that does, and reasonably would be expected to, cause actual fear in the person or their family.;
      • content that violates another’s intellectual property rights, including copyright, patent, or trademark;  or
    • In violation of the software terms of use for the Audiovisual Studio equipment. For software policies, please see the “Third party vendor” section in the Privacy and confidentiality of patron records policy.
  • The library reserves the right to stop recordings that violate library rules. 
  • Audiovisual Studio users may be charged a fee or replacement cost for any intentional damage to the Audiovisual Studio or equipment.
  • Failure to comply with the rules will result in a warning or exclusion from library premises according to library rules. 

Project files and storage

  • Data and files on computers are automatically deleted at the end of each public computer session. 
  • Patrons are encouraged to bring a large-capacity (16 GB or more) external drive or have access to cloud storage for saving project files. The library will not store external drives for Audiovisual Studio users. 

Copyright

Users may not create works that are in violation of copyright law or another’s intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for securing permission, including  paying copyright licensing fees, if applicable, to use and distribute content subject to the intellectual property rights of others and that is not in the public domain. The library is not liable for any violations of copyright law by the users of the Audiovisual Studio equipment. 

Library staff are available to provide information on how to search for copyright-free content and Creative Commons content (free for creators to use with licensing and attribution requirements that vary depending on the type of license). 

Ownership and publishing of content

The library provides access to recording equipment, and does not serve as a publisher of content created by patrons. The library does not own the content that patrons create using the equipment in the Audiovisual Studio. The library will not register works with the U.S. Copyright or Trademark offices for patrons. Patrons who are interested in registering their works may want to consult the U.S. Copyright Office or U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to learn more. For example, content created by multiple people may have more than one author and owner for purposes of copyright.

Video production outside of the Audiovisual Studio

Brief filming is allowed in public areas of the library. Users should: 

  • follow library rules,
  • not block entrances, doorways or stairs,
  • not impede patrons or staff access throughout the building or to resources and materials, and
  • ask permission from any library staff or patrons that may be filmed. 

The Audiovisual Studio space and equipment

The Audiovisual Studio consists of a control room and two dedicated studio spaces; one for audio and another for visual. The rooms are designed to contain sound within each space, including noise-reducing panels and other acoustic treatments. Sound levels may reach high volumes; ear plugs are available, if needed.

Equipment and Technology

The Audiovisual Studio is equipped with an array of professional equipment for use in the creation and production of audio and video recordings. View a list of equipment that may be available on the Audiovisual Studio page. The equipment must remain in the Audiovisual Studio, except for approved programs or workshops that may entail using the equipment in other areas of the library.  

Staff or a community partner is available to assist with the use of the equipment in the Audiovisual Studio. Heavy equipment may be only moved by staff. Patrons may not unplug the equipment in the studios. 

Patrons are welcome to bring their own equipment and technology; the library is not responsible for any theft of or damage to patrons’ equipment and technology during the program. Patron equipment or technology may not be directly connected to the studio computer or outboard gear. A transfer point will be provided for connecting technology.