Launchpad FAQ
The Launchpad is a dedicated space for the community to explore, create, learn, share, and access digital technology. Along with workshops, events, and programs, we accommodate all levels of digital literacy learning for the public.
Digital literacy involves continuous learning of technology. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, digital literacy will help you gain the necessary skills, confidence, productivity, and insight about technology in your daily life. For more about digital literacy and libraries, please see the definition from ALA.
The Launchpad is located on the first floor at the Main Brighouse Branch, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, BC, Canada V6Y 1R8.
Creation Stations allow you to:
- 3D print
- scan photos, negatives, artwork and slides
- digitize personal VHS and music collections
Members of Richmond Public Library are welcome to use the computers in the Launchpad as long as they are working on a technical or creative project that requires our specialized equipment. Catalogue inquiries, internet browsing, or other general computer use should be performed elsewhere in the designated computer zones of the library.
In order to serve our community needs, we designed a space where everyone from the community can meet to discuss and share ideas. Having an open-concept floor plan with sliding panels allows our staff to make the best use of the Launchpad, converting it from a presentation stage to customizable classroom and lecture areas.
We have four iMacs, three all-in-one Windows PCs, scanner and digitization hardware and four Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printers.
The Brighouse Chinese language collection is located together with the Dr. Lee Browsing Collection on the 2nd floor of the Brighouse branch. Please ask our friendly staff if you would like assistance searching for a specific item.
3D printers are available for drop in use throughout the week for members who have completed the group 3D Printer Orientation. All prints must complete during library hours, as printers will not be left running unattended while the library is closed.
The digitization and scanner stations are drop in, first come first served after you have attended one of the orientations for either the scanner or the digitization stations.
Stations may be unavailable at times during special program events. Please visit the Launchpad to find out more.
No, our workshops are always free to the public. Some workshops may require patrons to complete an orientation to learn how to operate equipment and software prior to use. Please check our Launchpad Programs or the Library’s events calendar for more information.
No food should be eaten in the Launchpad at any time. Bottled or closed container beverages are permitted and must be properly discarded after consumption.
Unfortunately, members cannot borrow any of the Launchpad technology at the present time.
Yes, we offer Digital Learning Tours designed for grade 4 and 5 classes where students explore robotics and electronics through Dash & Dot robots, littleBits electronic kits, and other technologies. See our flyer for more details.
Coding, or computer programming, is the process of writing instructions for a computer to tell it what to do. Coding can be visual where you drag and drop coloured blocks to create instructions, or it can be text-based where you type each instruction line by line.
Computational thinking is a method of solving problems where the solution can be carried out by a computer. It is often used when coding directly on a computer, but it can also be learned without a computer and applied to real world situations.
In the BC Curriculum, coding is part of the Computational Thinking Module that teachers may incorporate into their classrooms starting in Grade 6. Grade 6 and 7 students are introduced to visual programming and transition to text-based programming as early as Grade 8.
Yes, grade 6 and 7 teachers can sign up their classes for our Scratch Retro Game Coding workshops. Students learn computational thinking and coding by making retro-style video games in Scratch. See our flyer for more details.
We teach digital literacy skills to provide opportunities for everyone to explore and learn with various technologies. We strongly believe in supporting K-12 education where by learning digital skills, students develop core competencies including communication, creative and critical thinking, and personal and social awareness and responsibility.
With our digital programs we encourage critical thinking, team building, executive function learning, creativity, social confidence, and time management through hands-on and group-based activities.
Lynda.com is an online education service that offers thousands of video courses in software, creative, and business skills. As a Richmond resident and library member, you can access Lynda.com for free. If you live outside of Richmond, visit your local library branch to find out if they have access to Lynda.com.
Opportunities for digital volunteering change with every season. We are adding new programs all the time, so it is a good idea to always check the Volunteering page to see what is currently available. We have programs for all ages, with topics ranging from coding, robotics, special effects and animation, 3D printing to computer basics.
Training depends on the program and what you will be doing as a volunteer. If you are helping participants with computer coding or special software you may be required to first attend an orientation session.
We are always seeking people who want to get more involved. Anyone over the age of 14 with a passion for digital literacy and lifelong learning can volunteer at the Richmond Public Library. You must: be at least 14 years of age, attend an interview, provide us with two references, communicate in English, and be available for six months of volunteer service within a calendar year. To apply, visit our Volunteering page.
If you have technology or equipment that you would like to donate to the Richmond Public Library, please contact Cindy Ho, Head of Digital Services, at cindy.ho@yourlibrary.ca or Kristen Lemay, Digital Services Librarian, at kristen.lemay@yourlibrary.ca.
We are always happy to work with our community and we welcome new opportunities to form partnerships! Whether you are a company, organization or individual, you can suggest an event or visit our Get Involved page for more information.
3D printing is a process of creating physical objects from digital models. Our Makerbot Replicator 2 printers melt PLA plastic, a non-toxic biodegradable cornstarch-based plastic into thin layers one on top of the other to build a physical version of the 3D model.
Anyone with a free Richmond Public Library card can use our library’s equipment, physical collections, programs and services. Members who wish to print their own custom designs may book one of four Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printers after attending a group 3D Printer Orientation. Members and visitors of the Richmond Public Library may purchase ticketed items from our seasonal display starting from $2 each printed by our library staff. To learn more about our 3D Printing Stations, visit our Creation Stations page.
Yes. Ticketed items printed by our library staff start at $2. Members who book a 3D printer for their own custom designs are charged $2 per 90-minute time slot and the total weight of the model, including supports and rafts, at 20 cents per gram. Funds from 3D printing go towards parts and maintenance of the 3D printers and to purchase PLA filament.
Richmond Public Library has four bookable Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printers and one open source Kossel 3D Delta Printer with a heated bed.
Ticketed items printed by our library staff will take on average 30 minutes. Print time estimates for ticketed items accompany printed examples in the display case. For members printing custom items, print times may vary depending on the size, solidity, and detail of the object.
The 3D printers at the Launchpad melt and print out thin layers of plastic to replicate a digital model. Make sure that the object has a good flat base to print upwards from. If the object does not have a solid base, consider using a raft so that the object adheres well to the printing platform. The melted plastic is affected by gravity. Gravity will affect areas that have gaps and parts that overhang the main body of the object; consider the branches of a tree stretching out from the trunk. This is because the melted plastic layers cannot be printed in mid-air. Adding supports can help address this issue. Supports are thin lines of plastic printed between gaps in the design. However, time and effort will be required to remove them afterwards.
The finished print will be weighed and the cost of the print will be added to your library card account. As we cannot hold printed items indefinitely, the 3D printed item will be held at the Launchpad afterwards for one week awaiting pickup. If the object has not been picked up by the deadline, it will be recycled and the charge for the printed item will remain on your library card until cleared.
Our 3D printers use PLA (polylactide) plastic, which is non-toxic, recyclable, and biodegradable. It is derived from renewable resources, commonly cornstarch, in the case of Canada and the U.S.
Ticketed items are dependent on the chosen colour of the day. Members who have attended our group 3D Printer Orientation wishing to print custom items may choose from the variety of colors that we have in stock during their member booking.
While PLA is non-toxic, it is not recommended that you use anything printed for food or drink. The PLA we use is a porous material, so bacteria can easily get trapped inside.
If you are new to 3D printing, or just looking for ideas, Thingiverse and PinShape are both 3D printing communities that have a large number of files uploaded by creators under creative commons license.
In the case of VHS and cassette tapes, even if you still have a VCR or tape deck these media will become brittle and break over time. They were not meant to last forever, and with each passing year there is a loss in quality. Converting to a digital file will prolong their usability and make them easier to share and edit.
The Launchpad has:
Dell OptiPlex 7440 All-in-one computer
Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB direct-drive professional turntable
Sony VCR (for playing NTSC)
VHS-C Adapter (not compatible with 8mm cassettes)
Cassette tape deck
3.5″ floppy disk
You may sign up for free group tutorials here. It is not recommended that you drop in for a session until you have taken one of the tutorials. Depending on staff time, we may or may not be able to offer a short tutorial on a drop in basis. Unfortunately, we do not have the staffing available to help you edit your files, but your library card does grant you access to online tutorials provided by Lynda.com.
DVDs are digital copies of videos, so this would fall under copying of digital video. Commercial DVDs are protected by digital locks that prevent their duplication and cannot legally be copied even for personal or educational use.
Yes. After digitizing an LP (33, 45 or 78), you can mark the recording at the beginning and end of every song. When the Audacity software saves your files, it will save them as individual songs.
You can make copies of old home movies on VHS (NTSC), your personal LP collection (45s/33s/78s), and audio cassette tapes. We do not have an 8-track deck at this time. Digitizing illegal and obscene materials is not allowed.
The answer to this depends if you are copying video or audio. VHS and DVD with copyright (also known as DRM, Digital Rights Management,) is protected under copyright law. The library respects copyright law, and therefore the software will not allow the duplication of DVD or VHS copyrighted materials.
When making a copy of audio materials, such as an LP or cassette tape, it is within the copyright guidelines to create a personal copy of music you have purchased for your own use.
When making a copy of audio materials, such as an LP or cassette tape, it is within the copyright guidelines to create a personal copy of music you have purchased for your own use.
Digital copies are only ever as good as the source material. If your source material is grainy or has audio feedback, that will show up in your digitized version. However, our computers are equipped with audio and video-editing software. Learn more through online tutorials provided by Lynda.com.
Movavi Suite, VideoPad, Kdenlive, and Audacity are available to use at our Digitization Station. VideoPad, Kdenlive and Audacity are all open source programs and free for you to download at home. My Memories is available on the scanner stations.
The Digitization Station is a drop-in station. Simply see a staff member at the Launchpad to sign in with your library card. If you don’t have a library card, you will have to sign up for one. You can fill out the application here.
You can use the Digitization Station for 1 two hour session per day. You will be able to extend your time by an additional hour, if there is not a following booking, with a maximum time of three hours per day. Each customer is allowed one session per day. Logging out concludes your session. If you need to step away from the station during your booking time, the station can be locked and you can log back on during that session.
It takes the same amount of time to convert as it does to play the entire tape. For example, if you are converting a two-hour movie it will take two hours to digitize. Plus, you must add in more time to save or edit your file, which could take up to another half hour.
You will need to bring a USB memory stick large enough to hold your digitized material. The size of the file will depend on the quality of digitization. For example, 1080p will be a much larger file than 720p. We suggest bringing a USB memory stick with a minimum of 16GB. You cannot save to a portable hard-drive.
The library does not currently have any USB memory sticks available for purchase. There are nearby stores where you can purchase a hard-drive or USB stick, but be aware this may shorten your booked time, and you cannot leave the equipment running or unattended while you are not at the station. If you need to step away from the station, please lock the station and return all checked out equipment to a library staff member for safe storage. Please take any personal belongings with you.
Launchpad scanners are for photographs, slides, and negatives. You may scan documents by using our scanners located in the Group Computer Zone on the second floor. Visit our PC Reservation page to book a scanner or computer at any of our branches. If you have another type of document that you would like to scan, please consult with a library staff member before booking a time slot. The scanning of illegal and obscene materials is not allowed.
We have one Epson V700 and one Epson V800 Flatbed Scanner available for public use.
Currently, our scanners are drop in on a first come, first served basis. However, please attend an orientation session first to learn how to use the scanner prior to dropping in. Staff may or may not be available to offer a short tutorial on a drop in basis.
You can use the scanner station for a three-hour session on a first come first serve basis. However, please attend an orientation session first to learn how to use the scanner prior to dropping in. Staff may or may not be available to offer a short tutorial on a drop in basis.
Our scanner stations come with media trays for you to scan slides and negatives. If it is your first time scanning slides and negatives, you will need to complete a short 1-on-1 staff-led orientation at the beginning of your session.
The library does not currently have any USB memory sticks available for purchase. If you do not have a storage device, you are still welcome to use the scanner, but you will need to save your images to cloud storage or email them to yourself. We do not store patron files on the library computers. All personal files must be deleted from the station at the end of the session.
Our Scanner Stations are equipped with either Photoshop CC or Affinity and the scanner’s own photo-editing software.