Guidelines for libraries serving persons with a hearing impairment.

Abstract

In 1984, The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped published Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 1984. After review of this document, the Roundtable for Libraries Serving Special Populations (RLSP) within the New York Library Association (NYLA) decided that guidelines for all libraries serving blind and visually impaired persons in New York State should be written. At the annual NYLA conference in 1984, it was proposed that state guidelines be established for other special populations, as well as libraries serving blind, visually, and physically handicapped persons.

Introduction

The project to develop these guidelines was long term to allow experts in the field to prepare and review the document. Each section of the document was prepared by one group of professionals, circulated to the roundtable membership for general review, circulated again to experts not affiliated with RLSP but knowledgeable in their particular expertise, reread by both groups, and returned to the original preparers for final review and rewriting.

Guidelines for Libraries Serving Persons with a Hearing Impairment or a Visual Impairment was not meant to be established as a long-standing document for use in the New York State libraries which serve special populations, but rather as a document to be updated periodically. Published in 1987, it is available from New York Library Association, 252 Hudson Avenue, Albany, NY 12210-1802, 518-432-NYLA, 1-800-252-NYLA, Fax [phone].

Two sections of this document, "Guidelines for Libraries Serving Persons with a Hearing Impairment" and "Self Assessment for Libraries Serving Persons with a Hearing Impairment," are excerpted here with the permission of Susan Lehman Keitel, executive director, New York Library Association.

Guidelines for Libraries Serving Persons

with a Hearing Impairment

Persons with a hearing impairment shall have:

* Access to the full range of library services available to the general

public with special provisions made to assist these persons and

adapt these services so that they can make effective use of library

services. * The right to a confidential client-library staff relationship and

a nonjudgmental atmosphere. * The opportunity to participate in the decision-making process of

the library to the same degree as any other patron.

1. The library's written policies on collection development, access

to services, shall include an affirmative action statement with

respect to disabled individuals.

1.1. The policy statement shall be developed with the advice of

           an advisory committee that includes at least one person with
           hearing impairment or a family member or a representative
           from an appropriate service agency.

1.2. There shall be a budget to carry out the program in

accordance with stated goals and objectives.

2. Library staff shall make available the resources of local,

regional, state, and national library systems and networks to

persons with hearing impairments.

3. Library services shall be available to all persons with hearing

impairment, regardless of age, degree of deafness, level of

communication skills, or accompanying disabilities.

4. The special needs and interests of persons with hearing

impairment and their families shall be recognized in library

programs and materials collections. Informational, recreational,

cultural, and educational materials shall be provided. These

materials shall also be available to all who work with persons

with hearing impairments or who are interested in their needs.

This availability shall be publicized.

4.1. Services and materials shall be available to parents of

children with hearing impairment.

4.2. The library collection shall include a full range of

viewpoints on the education of the deaf.

4.3. Books and pamphlets on sign language, dictionaries of

signs, signed books, and wordless books shall be available.

4.4. Materials on all aspects of deafness, including legal rights,

deaf culture and heritage, shall be represented.

4.5. Instructional materials, in all formats, designed specifically

for persons with hearing impairments shall be available.

4.6. The collection shall include and access shall be provided

            to periodicals dealing with the educational, legal,
            socioeconomic, technological, and medical aspects of
            deafness, as well as periodicals intended specifically for the
            recreational needs of hearing impaired readers.

4.7. Information and referral files shall include information on

            schools, churches, social services agencies, interpreters,
            product suppliers, and other organizations serving persons
            with hearing impairment.

4.8. Captioned films and videotapes designed for hearing

            impaired audiences shall be available and easily accessible
            through the library catalog. Lesson plans and study guides
            to accompany some of these films shall be available for
            teacher and student use.

4.9. Captioned filmstrips and other visual aids shall also be

available and so identified (marked).

4.10. Basic computer literacy skills shall be validated for persons

            with hearing impairment wherever computers are available
            for public access. Training for persons with hearing
            impairment shall be made available.

4.11. Libraries shall provide access to telecaptioning devices/decoders

for persons with hearing impairment.

5. Programs shall be developed for individual or group enjoyment,

development of communication skills, and for encouraging

intellectual growth as part of life long learning.

5.1. Libraries shall provide programming on topics of interest

to hearing impaired persons.

5.2. Interpreters shall be available upon request when programs

are offered to deaf persons.

5.3. Signed story hours shall be offered as a service to children

           with hearing impairment and also as an awareness program
           for others.

5.4. Film programs utilizing captioned films, nonverbal films,

and foreign films with subtitles shall be offered.

5.5. At least once a year the library shall have a display or exhibit

           which draws attention to services available to persons with
           hearing impairment, to their families, and to their employers.

6. Libraries shall provide alternative methods for the delivery of

services to hearing impaired persons who would otherwise be

unable to use the library services independently.

6.1. Libraries shall support and cooperate with programs

           designed to meet the needs of persons with hearing
           impairment in other community institutions.

6.2. Delivery of materials by mail shall be an option.

7. Libraries shall identify and cooperate with other agencies

providing services to persons with hearing impairment.

7.1. Librarians providing services to hearing impaired residents

           of institutions shall act as advocates to assure their freedom
           to read materials of their own choosing and the right to
           information.

7.2. Library staff shall serve on boards and committees of agencies

which serve the hearing impaired.

7.3. Library staff shall participate in training activities and

           community programming of agencies which serve persons
           with hearing impairment.

8. Libraries shall provide facilities that allow persons with hearing

impairment to access their libraries independently.

8.1. New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code,

           Vol. 9, Title 9, Subtitle S, Chapter I
           Effective January 1, 1984, the following provisions for persons
           with hearing impairments must be included in new
           construction and major alterations, additions, and
           conversions:
           a. In all buildings in which fire alarms are required, such
              alarms must be audible and visual.
           b. All public phones in buildings must be equipped with
              receivers that are T-switch compatible. In banks of phones,
              at least one must be equipped with a volume control.
           c. Areas of public assembly with audio-amplification systems
              must also have listening systems to assist persons with
              a hearing loss (e.g., audio loop or FM system).

8.2. Community rooms shall be available for use.

8.3. The communication needs of persons with hearing

impairments shall be considered when arranging meetings.

8.4. Hearing guide dogs shall be allowed access to the library

with owners.

8.5. Conspicuous and clearly worded directional signs shall be

provided.

8.6. Orientation programs shall be provided so that persons with

           hearing impairment become aware of the wide scope of
           library resources.

8.7. Libraries shall provide access to telecommunication devices

           (TTY's) to assist in meeting the information needs of persons
           with hearing impairment.

9. Libraries shall design and implement a staff development

program to improve the awareness, sensitivity, and communication

skills of library staff in regard to persons with hearing

impairment.

9.1. One library staff person shall be responsible for the training

and development of staff.

9.2. Programs shall be conducted at staff meetings and other inservice

training sessions.

9.3. Visits to other agencies and service providers shall be

arranged.

9.4. Relevant professional literature shall be available and its use

promoted.

10. Libraries shall energetically publicize programs, materials, and

services for persons with hearing impairment.

11. Libraries shall provide materials and programs to make the public

sensitive to the needs and concerns of persons with hearing

impairment.

Self Assessment for Libraries Serving Persons

with a Hearing Impairment

The following questionnaire is designed for a self assessment for libraries serving persons with a hearing impairment. The codes used are Y meaning "yes," N meaning "no," NIA meaning "not applicable."

1. Do you have a written policy statement on library services for

persons with a hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

2. Do you have an advisory group on library/disability issues that

includes at least one person with a hearing impairment or member

of a family or service agency representative concerned with persons

with hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

3. Does your budget specify funds for programs, materials, and

services for persons with hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

4. Do you access disablity related databases?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

5. Are services and materials available to parents of children with

hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

6. Do you collect materials in the following formats?

      Captioned filmstrip       Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Captioned films           Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Signed or

       nonverbal films          Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Captioned videotapes      Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Signed or

nonverbal videotapes Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

7. Which of the following disability related materials do you collect?

      Books                     Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Periodicals               Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Directories               Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Vertical file materials   Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Catalogs of special

       products                 Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Literary                  Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Sign language

materials Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Instructional

materials Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

8. Nonprint collections of materials about disabilities include:

      16mm films                 Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Videotapes                 Y _____ N _____ N/A _____
      Other (please specify)     Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

9. Do you have computerized equipment designed or adapted for

use by persons with a hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

10. Do you provide access to decoders?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

11. Do you offer equipment demonstrations and training?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

12. Do you have equipment for loan?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

13. Do you have microcomputer software packages designed or

adapted for use by persons with a hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

14. Do you provide programming on topics of interest to both the

deaf community and hearing impaired persons?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

15. Are interpreters available upon request when programs are offered

to persons with a hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

16. Are signed story hours offered?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

17. Are film programs using captioned films, nonverbal films, or

foreign films with subtitles offered?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

18. What other kinds of programs have been offered?

Group visits to

the library? Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Programs on

disability issues? Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

19. Does the library have a display or exhibit which draws attention

to services available to persons with a hearing impairment, to

their families, and to their employers at least once a year?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

20. Are there alternative methods of delivery of services to hearing

impaired persons who cannot use the library independently?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

21. Does your staff develop a knowledge of, and cooperate with, other

agencies providing services to persons with hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

22. Is there a visual component to the emergency warning system?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

23. Is there an amplification control on public telephones for use

by persons with hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

24. Do you have listening systems to assist persons with a hearing

loss in any area of public assembly which has an audioamplification

system?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

25. Are elevators equipped with visible warning devices?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

26. Are access symbols and other relevant directional signs posted?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

27. Are orientation programs provided?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

28. Is access to telecommunication devices (TTYs) provided?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

If yes, the number is: ( )_____

29. Do you have staff members who are assigned to provide special

library services for persons with disabilities?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

30. Do you have at least one library staff member who is fluent in

American Sign Language?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

31. Is there an ongoing program of attitude awareness training for

staff?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

If yes, does this training include:

Professional

staff Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Clerical staff Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

Security

guards Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

32. Are sign language classes offered?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

33. Do you publicize programs, materials, and services for persons

with hearing impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____

34. Do you provide materials and programs to make the public

sensitive to the needs and concerns of persons with hearing

impairment?

Y _____ N _____ N/A _____