[Publib] Deaf Culture & Libraries

[Moncia Mackeachan]

http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/05-06-wt2/www/A_Swanson/intro.htm



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> Deaf Culture & Libraries
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> introduction
> Why think about the connection between Deaf Culture and libraries? Marc
> Marschark suggests that instead of seeing deafness as an impairment which
> limits full functioning, we could see it as a "lack [of] full access to
> information and opportunities normally available to hearing children."1 Since
> libraries are providers of information, it seems like an critical connection
> to make.
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> This website provides a basic introduction to Deaf Culture for people in
> hearing communities, and looks at some of the general issues libraries might
> want to consider when  providing services for Deaf communities.
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> When planning library services for Deaf communities, the focus is often only
> on accessibility. But if libraries understand Deaf Culture and see Deaf
> communities as they see themselves ­ as members of a cultural and linguistic
> group, rather than individuals with a common disability ­ then the model for
> providing services may need to change as well. As libraries have found in
> their efforts to provide services to other cultural groups, not only does the
> library need to be accessible, it also needs to be relevant. It is important
> for libraries to know something about Deaf Culture in order to plan collection
> development and events.
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> This website is not meant to be an exhaustive look at Deaf Culture and library
> services, but rather a general overview of some concepts and issues which may
> be helpful to think about. Hopefully this website will provide some
> background, and link those who are interested with more in-depth information.
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