Bridgeport residents now have a new way to bring their creative ideas to life – for free. The Bridgeport Public Library’s Beardsley Branch has introduced podcast studios available for those in the community to use with a valid library card, ages 18 and older.
“You can record podcasts, you can record music, you can record anything you like and it’s free,” said Elaine Braithwaite, city librarian for the Bridgeport Public Library.
Patrons may reserve up to 10 hours of studio time per month, as available. Studio time is booked in two-hour to four-hour increments
Librarian Andre Massa, who has been leading the project, said the studios are already getting steady use. “The studios get used about four to six hours a week right now,” he said. “Once we get more equipment, that number will definitely go up.”
Massa explained that placing podcast studios in libraries has become a growing trend nationwide, as libraries evolve into hubs for learning and creativity. The podcast studios at Beardsley Branch was generously funded by the Rotary Club of Bridgeport.
“This is what libraries are used for – exploring trends across the country,” he said. “Podcasting equipment is usually very expensive, so this is a great way to give many people the same opportunities.”
The addition of the studios reflects a larger mission: to make technology accessible to everyone and support lifelong learning. “It’s amazingly cool,” Massa added. “I love the fact that people can come in here and work on an idea they otherwise might not have been able to pursue.”
The Beardsley Branch also features The Bridgeport Unmasked Podcast, hosted by librarian Adam Cleri, showcasing the kind of community-driven content the new studios are meant to inspire.
With this initiative, the Bridgeport Public Library continues to expand beyond books, offering space, tools and encouragement for creativity in this digital age.
For more information on the podcast studios located in the Beardsley Branch Library at 2536 East Main Street, visit the library’s website.
