Helping Deaf Patrons Connect. Hearing impair patrons of Jacksonville (Fla.) Public Library can now use any of the library's locations to make telephone calls free of charge.
The library has installed video relay service (VRS) equipment from Sorenson Communication, which allows any user to conduct video relay calls with family, friends, or business associates through a certified American Sign Language interpreter. The service operates over a high-speed internet connection. The hearing impaired user sees an interpreter on a computer screen and signs to that person, who contacts the hearing user via a standard phone line. Hearing patrons can also place video calls to a deaf or hard-of-hearing person by calling a toll-free number.
The Talking Books Library has many services for blind library customers, such as recorded books and descriptive videos.
Sorenson provided the equipment and the service free of charge to the library. Jerry Reynolds, JPJ's Talking Books Library Manager made initial contact with the company at the ALA Annual Conference last year, and contacted Sorenson directly to pitch the idea of installing the system at all library locations. Many libraries offer the relay systems in their libraries, but Jacksonville is the first to offer the service system wide.
The library finished installing the video relay systems in January. It estimates that more than 400 patrons use the service per week.
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