Terms and conditions

StoryCast Studios is a podcast recording space located at Kawana Library owned and operated by Sunshine Coast Council. The podcast studio is an acoustically treated space featuring audio recording equipment, editing software access and a desktop computer. The full studio equipment list is located on the Sunshine Coast Council Libraries’ website.

DEFINITIONS:

Council means Sunshine Coast Council.

Libraries means Sunshine Coast Council Libraries.

Booking means the hirer’s online booking. A booking is taken to have been made at the date and time at which the online booking is accepted.

Session means the date and time allocated to the hirer by a booking for the use of the podcast studio.

Hirer means the person or organisation nominated on the booking form.

Users means the persons who use the podcast studio on behalf of the hirer.

Studio means the podcast studio recording space, marketed as StoryCast Studios.

Terms and conditions means this document, Libraries podcast studio | Terms and conditions of use.

Equipment means a set of audio equipment, furniture, devices, computer hardware and software available in the studio.

Commercial organisation means a company or organisation with ABN/ACN, not considered a not-for-profit organisation.

Terms used in the singular form shall where appropriate include the plural (and vice versa).

1. Location and opening hours

StoryCast Studios | Kawana Library | 30 Nanyima St. Buddina QLD 4575

Podcast studio hours of operation are available on the Libraries website.

2. Studio capacity

The podcast studio can accommodate a maximum of 4 people per booked session.

3. Studio hire fees

Details of podcast studio hire fees are outlined on the Libraries website page. Studio hire fees and charges are reviewed annually.

4. Adherence to Council policies and guidelines

Bookings for the podcast studio are subject to compliance with these terms and conditions. Council reserves the right to amend the podcast booking procedure or the terms and conditions at any time.

All hirer/users of the podcast studio must abide by the Libraries’ policies and guidelines including:

• Conditions of entry policy
• Internet use guidelines
• COVID-19 requirements;
  • comply with current restrictions and procedures related to Council and Queensland Government COVID-19 health directives.

5. Booking conditions

The booking procedure is available on the Sunshine Coast Libraries website. The hirer is required to be 16 years of age or over. Podcast studio users under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a user who is over the age of 18 years and is a Libraries member while in the studio.

All bookings must comply with the following terms:

• the hirer must be a Sunshine Coast Library member
• the hirer must agree to and comply with all Libraries Podcast Studio | Terms and conditions of use.

The hirer is responsible for ensuring that:

• users have read and are familiar with the terms and conditions;
• users comply with the terms and conditions; and only users authorised to use the studio on behalf the hirer are present in and use the studio during the session.

Sunshine Coast Libraries reserve the right to accept, change, cancel and refuse a studio booking at any time, without notice.

Non-transferable booking – Bookings cannot be transferred in part or in whole or assigned to another person or organisation.

Booking limits – Studio sessions are for two hours and are limited to:

• Daily - Hirers can only book ONE 2-hour studio session per day; and
• Weekly - Hirers can book a maximum of TWO 2-hour sessions per week.

Fit for purpose – Council does not take responsibility if the podcast studio is not fit for the hirer/users’ purpose. Council will not refund the hire fee if the hirer determines that the podcast studio is not fit for the hirer/users’ purpose.

Equipment failure during session – Council will refund the hire fee if it is determined by Council staff that the studio equipment failed while in use or was not operational at the time of the use as per the Studio Operation Quick Guide.

Damage to podcast studio, equipment and furniture – The hirer/users must immediately report all breakages or damage to Council or library property to a member of the library staff. The hirer is liable to Council for full replacement cost for any damage to the podcast studio and its equipment or furniture.

Incident reporting – The hirer/users must report any complaints or incidents to a member of the library staff, including, but not limited to, injuries, theft, criminal activity, security risks or damage to the podcast studio or equipment.

Theft, loss or damage to hirer property – The hirer/users access the podcast studio at their own risk. Council is not responsible for any theft, loss or damage to the hirer/users’ person, items or property. Council takes no responsibility for unclaimed items left in the podcast studio.

Cancellation by hirer (more than 24 hours prior to session) – If the hirer cancels the booking more than 24 hours before the start time of the session, the hirer has the option to reschedule the session or any paid hire fee will be refunded.

Cancellation by Council– Council may cancel a booking at any time, at its discretion, without recourse by the hirer. If Council cancels the booking, any paid hire fee will be refunded.

Non-attendance or cancellation by hirer (less than 24 hours prior) – If the hirer does not attend the pre-booked session or does not provide notice of cancellation at least 24 hours before the start time of the session, the hire fee will be forfeited.

Termination of booking – Council reserves the right to terminate the booking and expel the hirer/users if the terms and conditions are breached and/or in the event of other misconduct by the hirer/users of the podcast studio. Terminated bookings forfeit the hire fee.

Refusal – Council reserves the right to refuse a booking if the hirer does not satisfy the terms and conditions or if the hirer has any outstanding fees or charges owed to Council at the time of the booking.

6. Permitted studio use

The podcast studio may be used for private, not-for-profit or commercial use. Uses permitted in the studio may include, but are not limited to:

• content creation such as podcast production;
• audio interviews and video recordings.

Activities not permitted in the podcast studio include:

• conducting meetings;
• musician/band rehearsals;
• music production; or
• other non-podcast related activities.

7. Appropriate podcast content

Sunshine Coast Council is not responsible for any material produced by individuals or groups in the podcast studio however, content created in the podcast studio must not be offensive or inappropriate.

Inappropriate content includes content that is abusive, threatening, derogatory, defamatory, pornographic, sexually offensive, obscene, unlawful, fraudulent, intentionally misleading, invasive of another person's privacy, or advocates or incites violence. This includes content or activities that promote or express verbal, mental or physical harm of any kind against any individual or group, or that constitutes or encourages criminal conduct.

8. Emergency procedures and callouts

All hirers/users must comply with the Kawana Library emergency procedures and any directions given by staff.  The hirer is liable for any costs associated with emergency services callouts resulting from actions taken by the hirer/users, or callouts that arise from the negligent use of the podcast studio by the hirer/users.

9. General conditions of studio use

Data storage – Data storage is the sole responsibility of the hirer/users and must be supplied as either an external storage device or cloud-based storage. Saving data to Council computers is not permitted*. Following each session Council PC drives in the podcast studio are cleared/wiped automatically. Data cannot be restored under any circumstances.

*Council disclaimer: Council or Libraries will not be held liable for any loss of data, or unsolicited theft or copying of recordings produced or data accessed in the podcast studio.

Technical support – The hire is for the podcast studio use only. No formal technical support is provided by Libraries or Council staff during the studio session. Basic operational support may be offered by library staff, on request.

Food and beverages – Strictly no food or beverages are to be taken into or consumed in the podcast studio. Bottled water is permitted however, must not be consumed during the operation of, or be placed in close proximity to, the studio equipment.

At the end of booked sessions – All equipment and furniture must be cleaned and returned to the position/location it was in at the start of the booked session. Standard equipment settings are outlined in Studio Operation Quick Guide.

Cleanliness – The hirer/users must keep the podcast studio clean and tidy at all times. Before the end of the booking session the hirer/users must wipe down tabletops, benches and surfaces with cleaning materials supplied. All waste must be placed in the appropriate bins. The hirer is liable for any additional cleaning costs that arise from failing to undertake these steps or leaving the studio in an unclean state.