Quinte West residents—particularly podcast creators—have been gifted a well-equipped, centrally located, and free recording space to explore and share their creative voices. Idea Box launched in April 2025 and, if you peek through the 16-foot glass window at the main entrance of City Hall, you can often catch a glimpse of recording sessions in progress.
Idea Box is a passion project of Emily Nash, Media & Communications Officer for the Quinte West Public Library. Drawing on insights from staff at the Picton Library, who had developed a similar space, Nash created a plan tailored specifically to the needs of Quinte West. About 100 people attended the launch event, and the space has seen steady use ever since—surpassing even Nash’s expectations.
“We had some doulas, some doctors, a nursing group who talked about their experiences, authors who wanted to record their books, school students who wanted to record a podcast as part of their school assignment,” says Nash. “We’ve also had parents and grandparents come in and record messages as gifts for their kids; we’ve had people record interviews, radio segments, and ads.”
A key part of Nash’s role is ensuring users feel confident with the equipment. It’s a responsibility she clearly enjoys. “I love sharing knowledge with the public and empowering them with the skills they need to create. You don’t have to be a mastermind to do it. We’re here to help you create something wonderful and share your voice with the community.”
Over time, a regular group of users has emerged—many of them podcasters. Joel Frijters is one such creator. His podcast, The Big Five, was previously recorded in a portable home studio using rented equipment. “(Idea Box) has simplified my process entirely and it has turned work into play,” he says. “I just show up with my guest(s), plug in and have a great chat.”
Another regular, Dexter Riley, echoes that sentiment. “Idea Box has elevated my recordings to a professional level with its studio grade microphones, audio interface, and quiet environment. It’s made the process more efficient and enjoyable, allowing me to focus on content rather than technical issues, and I’ve been able to produce higher-quality episodes that attract more listeners.”
Idea Box is also home to the Quinte West Public Library’s own The Bookmarked Podcast, hosted by Nash. With roughly one episode produced each month, the podcast is built around three core pillars. “One is library programming promotion,” says Nash. “Then we wanted a community spotlight, where we would have interviews with the community. Finally, we want to have a segment with our two librarians where they’re talking about the role of libraries today, readers’ advisory and that sort of thing.”
In one episode, Nash sat down with Rachel Murgel, Miss International Canada 2025, to discuss her project Books, Beauty, Brilliance, which aims to connect communities and empower youth through reading. The podcast also brought people together through a four-part live, in-studio reading of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed by Adam Veenstra.
Looking ahead, Nash envisions more frequent episodes and a growing audience. While The Bookmarked Podcast is currently available on Spotify, she hopes to expand into video with future episodes on YouTube.
As for Idea Box, the future continues to look bright. A forthcoming booking system will streamline access, and plans are underway to attract more video creators through new backdrop options and a camera loan program.
Podcaster and Idea Box user Kate Miller sums it up best: “It’s an incredible free resource that most people don’t know exists. If you’re a podcaster — or want to be one — there’s no reason not to use it.”
https://open.spotify.com/show/27YkBZ8rXukHlqtAlEkkLG
Photo Credit: Quinte West Public Library
