Tips for Serving Underserved Populations
Every library’s situation is a bit different and yours probably doesn’t share the issues that jump-started the Deaf Literacy Center. Yet your library may still have deaf patrons that you aren’t aware of.
Rodriguez says that it’s hard to tell the deaf apart – they come in, check out books and leave because they don’t want to spend time where they can’t communicate. They also won’t ask the library to provide programs for them.
To reach out to the deaf community, Rodriguez offers these tips:
- Start an ASL class.
- Bring in deaf speakers.
- Celebrate Deaf History Month (March 13-April 15).
And for special needs populations in general:
- Set up the program but let community members take charge.
- Special circumstances sometimes call for special rules.
- Figure out how to deal with underserved patron groups using your library, even when you don’t want to.
After all, as Rodriguez points out, the library is for everyone.
