At The Library

[alexiscartwheel]

The college where I work is a Gallaudet University Regional Center, so we regularly have deaf patrons at the library. (Gallaudet is a US university for the deaf.) In past positions, I've often encountered English language learners, but working with deaf patrons is a new experience for me. The most difficult part, as you might imagine, is communication. I don't know American Sign Language, and only some of the patrons can lip read. All of the deaf patrons I've helped so far have written down their requests. For something simple, like a book renewal, I write down the new due date. Easy enough.

Today I had a trickier situation. A patron came in looking for a specific book, which I looked up for her. Normally we try to explain the call numbers to patrons--most of whom are unfamiliar with the Library of Congress classification system--rather than personally tracking down each book ourselves, but I was unsure how to give that my usual explanation--or even ask if she needed it--without writing an essay. Writing out the call number and pointing to the appropriate shelf range seems inadequate, though she did find the book she wanted.

I did quick searches on Amazon.com and the public library catalog, and discovered that there really isn't much in the library literature about services for patrons with disabilities. (There's a ton about reader's advisory and teen services.) I don't recall any real mention of disability in libraries in any of my classes last semester, which makes me think it's still a neglected area. The lack of information seems to imply that it's a bit of a niche area, but I'd think, especially in public libraries, where I eventually hope to work, it'd be essential that librarians have some understanding their disabled patrons.

It's definitely an area I'd like to look into further. In particular, since I know I can expect to meet more deaf patrons in the upcoming months, I'd like to learn at least some basic phrases in ASL. Written transactions work, but feel somewhat impersonal to me, and it would be nice to at the very least be able to greet the patron in ASL. I guess it'd be an attempt to meet them halfway, communication wise, rather than expecting everyone to understand my language. In general, I think English-speakers in the US have an overly unilingual perspective. (The "this is America, so speak English" philosophy. We could be a lot more linguistically flexible. And learning languages is fun!) Maybe I can even figure out how to explain the call numbers...
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A sidenote: My boss is strange. He doesn't like "clutter" on the circulation desk. There's about five feet of desk in between the two circulation computers, and I learned today that putting an issue of MacLean's in that space constitutes clutter. Okay, a little anal, but sure. What was really strange was the way he conveyed this information to me: by picking up the magazine and kind waving it around a little. I wondered if maybe he was going to comment about the article I was reading (about digital music downloads at public libraries) until he gestured with it toward the other side of the desk and mumbled something about keeping it on the other side of the computer because he likes the desk clutter-free. Oy. It's like Office Space, but in a library. Library Space? Why is it that so many library workers have little to no people skills?

Comments

[carrotgirl.livejournal.com]

We actually had a speaker talk about users with vision impairment a few weeks ago (a woman who did her PhD research in Ireland on new software programs which allow visually impaired users to search websites more easily), but we haven't heard anything on deaf users as far as I know. That is a very interesting topic, actually.

I just quickly found these articles on LISA (a lot of the articles were in other languages, like Italian):

Records sharing means better caring: implementing electronic social care records at Lewisham delivers wide ranging benefits.
Ward, Bob; Kear*, Kerry; Cronbach, Stephen
Information Management and Technology, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 62-64, Apr 2006-Jun 2006

Accessibility at the Gallaudet University Library
Author Hamrick, Sarah
Source Interface; 26 (3) Fall 2004, pp.2

Inclusive library services for deaf people: an overview from the social model perspective
Playforth, Sarah
Health Information and Libraries Journal; 21 (Supplement 2) Sep 2004, pp.54-57

Developing accessible library services
Hannah, Karen
Library + Information Update; 2 (11) Nov 2003, pp.50-52

If your McGill info works, I would look up some info there, because there seemed to be a lot of info on accessibility and library services for the disabled (even though I hate saying that, since most deaf people don't consider themselves disabled). I would also research more about the deaf community...it's fascinating.

HAHA about the office space. Really, though, don't you remember the people in library school? There's a reason why your supervisor is like that. One day B. will probably be a manager. Which is sad. I yelled at him in class today. He was trying to argue that harrassment and abuse in the workplace can only be considered abuse if its based on gender or race!!! WTF? I was like, uh, actually, it doesn't matter WHY you are abusing someone, if you are abusing them that's all that matters.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the articles, I'll have to look them up later. (I went to check if my McGill account was still active and was bombarded with 198 unread e-mails. Yikes! And apparently they wanted me to TA for Cataloging. Flattering, certainly, but, um, I don't go there anymore. I think the whole withdrawal thing may have been screwed up... anyway. Longest parenthetical evah.) So maybe I'll read them at work tomorrow!

I'm glad I could get you interested in library things. I agree that it's a fascinating topic. I took two disability studies classes during my undergrad, and for one of them we talked quite a bit about deaf culture. Some of the articles about deaf education really concentrated on the issue of whether the deaf are disabled or a separate linguistic community. I think I definitely perceive my situation as a linguistic barrier. We're in no way incapable of understanding each other, we just don't speak the same language. To me, at least, it feels... elitist is not quite the word I'm searching for, but that's as close as my brain will get now... anyway... it feels sort of elitist to assume that everyone should have to adapt to me to communicate.

Yes, yes, you're right. I conveniently forget about all the other people in library school who weren't sitting in the back of the room doing sudoku puzzles and mentally STFUing B. And B is an idiot. I'm glad you yelled at him. I hope you were wearing a hoodie.

[carrotgirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that definitely means your account is still active. WHOA you got the TA Cataloguing position?? I think that means you got the highest grade in the class! Way to be! Honestly, they probably haven't even realized that you withdrew yet. They don't even know most of the students names.

Yes, I think that's the best way to put it...a separate linguistic community. I remember seeing a documentary about how the deaf community views the new implants that they are giving newborns who are born deaf now, and how a lot of them were really angry about it because they didn't feel that being deaf was an impairment. Very interesting.

Haha, no hoodie, just a librarian cardigan. I'm thinking if I can master the whole art of scolding and manage to pull off a cardigan, I'm halfway to being a professional...who needs library school!!

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

Was the documentary you watched Sound and Fury? We saw the same one! I found out that they did a follow up with the family several years later. I'll see if I can find the article about it somewhere, cause it was interesting.

[carrotgirl.livejournal.com]

That sounds about right...I don't remember the title because it was a long time ago. Yeah, I'm taking the second year cataloguing course, which is scary, but I want to get better at cataloguing and I think it would be fun to work in the cataloguing department. Totally different prof though, which might make a difference.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

I haven't decided yet whether I'll take more cataloging. I have to look into how the cataloging courses are split at Maryland. I'd definitely like to learn more about how LC actually works though.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

And, yeah, I'm apparently a cataloging genius or something. Heh. It was actually my favorite class. :D

[carrotgirl.livejournal.com]

PS. Sorry that my comment was about as long as your actual entry. Wow. You actually managed to bring up a library-related topic that interests me. Kudos. I thought that part of my brain died a long time ago.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

I don't mind! :D I'm working on my GA application for Maryland, so I'm trying to be all thoughtful and library-ish, or something.