February 20, 2008 Library of Congress Installs Communications System For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Staff

Contact: Library of Congress: Guy Lamolinara (202) 707-9217 | Sorenson Communications: Ann Bardsley (801) 287-9897

The Library of Congress has become one of the first federal agencies to implement an agency-wide “videophone” system that enables its deaf staff members who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with both hearing and deaf individuals. Using the videophones, deaf staff members can place Video Relay Service (VRS) calls, which are “relayed” through an ASL interpreter at a call center, to hearing individuals. Likewise, using the videophones, deaf individuals can place point-to-point calls with other deaf people who use ASL. Video relay calls are placed over a high-speed Internet connection through an easy-to-use Sorenson VP-200 videophone connected to a television or computer monitor with RCA inputs. The deaf user connects to an ASL interpreter and, over the videophone and visual display, signs to the interpreter, who then contacts the hearing user via a standard phone line and relays the conversation in ASL and English between the two parties. Hearing customers can also place video relay calls to any deaf or hard-of-hearing individual by simply dialing the toll-free number 1-866-FAST-VRS (1-866-327-8877) with a standard telephone. Equipment, training and support for the video relay service was supplied free of charge by Sorenson Communications, one of the Video Relay Service (VRS) companies compensated from a federal fund created as a result of Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The Library of Congress developed the secure internal network on which the VRS is installed and supplied the monitors to all of the deaf staff members who serve in a variety of positions throughout the Library of Congress. Doug Meick, program manager in Information Technology Services for the Library’s Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, said, “This technology greatly improves the ability of our deaf colleagues to conduct their daily business and underscores the Library of Congress’ commitment to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We hope other agencies will see our partnership with private industry, follow our example and take advantage of this federally funded service.” Eric Eldritch, Access Programs manager for the Library of Congress, said, “This is another example of the Library’s commitment to be on the cutting edge of providing reasonable accommodations via assistive technology. The Library of Congress hopes to position itself as an employer of choice for persons with disabilities and be a model of accessibility and universal design for other federal agencies.” Alex Richey, chair of the Library of Congress Deaf Association, said, “We are proud that the Library is providing videophone technology. Because I do not have to translate and type my comments into English, I can make routine calls faster in my natural language.” Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States and the largest library in the world, with more than 134 million items in more than 450 languages. Its collections are universal in scope and available in all formats in which information is recorded. The Library seeks to further understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge and by celebrating human achievement. For more information on Library of Congress programs, visit www.loc.gov.

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PR 08-035
2008-02-20
ISSN 0731-3527