I believe libraries are built on the idea that we all deserve equitable access to information. One of our goals as librarians is to remove barriers in order to create a safe and inclusive space where every person can connect with their community and explore resources, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.
September was Deaf Awareness Month—a time to celebrate Deaf Culture and advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Lake Region Public Library (LRPL) used the month of September as a time to consider the ways that we could better serve our Deaf community in the Lake Region.
Connecting With The Local Deaf Community
Devils Lake has the unique privilege of being the location for the North Dakota School for the Deaf/ Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NDSD/RC). NDSD/RC was established in 1980 and continues to be a pillar of our community and an important part of our state’s education system.
Last year, I invited staff and students from the school to a special American Sign Language (ASL) Storytime where we read the book Monster Hands. Monster Hands was co-written by Deaf author Jonaz McMillan and former ASL interpreter Karen Kane. The book features two best friends, Milo and Mel, who use ASL to scare away the monster under Milo’s bed. It is a story about friendship, overcoming fear, and ASL. I read the story aloud while a teacher interpreted in ASL alongside me. Reading Monster Hands was a fun and interactive way to introduce ASL to hearing children. It was also an opportunity for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing kids to see themselves represented in a story. We learned about the importance of hand shape, location, and facial expressions within ASL, and a few basic signs used throughout the book.
The littles from the North Dakota School for the Deaf visited the library again this year during Deaf Awareness Week. They joined us for Sensory Storytime, made crafts in our makerspace, checked out books, and spent time playing with the hearing kiddos in our Children’s Area. Earlier this year, we signed many of them up for library cards. This has given them another reason to come to the library. Visits like these remind us of the importance of creating a library where everyone feels welcome and has chances to participate. As part of that ongoing effort, my hope is to establish ASL Storytime as a monthly program at the library, creating regular opportunity for children and families to connect, learn, and enjoy stories together.
Building Connections Through ASL
You do not need to be fluent in ASL to make a difference. Sometimes, a small gesture of inclusion can turn an unfamiliar space into a comfortable one. Learning even a handful of basic signs—hello, nice to meet you, and thank you—can go a long way in helping Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons feel welcome. I encourage everyone to learn a few basic signs; you never know when those small efforts might help someone feel more comfortable, included, and understood.
The North Dakota School for the Deaf offers opportunities to take ASL classes throughout the year, and I am currently taking my second class. These free classes have given me another way to personally support the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I hope that when a patron sees me attempt a few simple signs, I can ease some of the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with wondering, “Will I be understood here?” Even something as simple as saying hello in ASL can send a much bigger message: You are welcome here. You belong here. And I am willing to meet you halfway.
While books with illustrations and flashcards are helpful, nothing beats learning face to face or live over Zoom. When in-person options aren’t available, I find watching videos and using apps developed by Deaf individuals to be especially valuable because they demonstrate the many attributes that make ASL a rich and complex language—not just hand shapes and movements, but also use of space, facial expressions and body language.
Other ASL Resources
I use a subscription to the Lingvano app to practice between classes, but the app also offers a free version. I’ve also found several other apps and YouTube channels that teach ASL, many of which I use both for my own learning and in the library. A few other resources I’ve found particularly helpful include:
If libraries are truly about equitable access to information and community, then we have to keep chipping away at the barriers that might prevent someone from feeling like they belong. For me, learning ASL is one meaningful way I can do that in my community, but it can look different at your library. Sometimes, making a place more inclusive starts with simply learning how to say hello.
(All pictures courtesy of guest contributor, Samantha Bischof)
Today’s guest contributor is Samantha Bischof. Samantha is the Children’s Librarian at Lake Region Public Library in Devils Lake, ND. When she’s not working, she’s chauffeuring her two kids around, tending to her small jungle of houseplants, picking up pretty rocks while walking her dog, or reading—duh.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
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The post Breaking Barriers Through ASL and Inclusive Storytime appeared first on ALSC Blog.
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