Try Your Hand at This

This guide demonstrates everything from how to set up programming involving sign language for all ages, to dealing with and paying interpreters, and from publicizing programs to the public and within the deaf community, to evaluating and improving the library's sign language collection. Kathy MacMillan's impressive understanding and knowledge of the deaf community and the importance of sign language—as well as her exceptional handling of the numerous erroneous myths about deafness and sign language that are, unfortunately, still often current—make this handbook indispensable for all library personnel looking to reach out to the deaf community.

American Sign Language is more than just an assortment of gestures. It is a full-fledged unique language, with all the characteristics of such. This helpful and user-friendly guide for librarians and other library personnel involved in library programming demonstrates everything from how to set up programming involving sign language for all ages to dealing with and paying interpreters. The book also discusses how to publicize programs to the public and within the deaf community and how to evaluate and improve the library's sign language collection. Kathy MacMillan's impressive understanding and knowledge of the deaf community and the importance of sign language_as well as her exceptional handling of the numerous erroneous myths about deafness and sign language that are, unfortunately, still often current_make this handbook an indispensable tool for all library personnel looking to reach out to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Part 1 Foreword
Part 2 Acknowledgments
Part 3 Introduction
Part 4 Part I: Make Your Programs Sparkle with Sign Language
Chapter 5 1. Sign Here Please
Chapter 6 2. "But I Don't Know Sign Language!"
Chapter 7 3. What You Never Learned in School
Chapter 8 4. Seven Simple Techniques for Incorporating Sign Language into Any Program
Chapter 9 5. Hands-On Sign Language
Chapter 10 6. Reaching Out
Chapter 11 7. Drawing Them In
Part 12 Part II: Programs for All Ages
Chapter 13 8. Baby Programs
Chapter 14 9. Toddler Programs
Chapter 15 10. Preschool Programs
Chapter 16 11. Elementary School Programs
Chapter 17 12. Middle School Programs
Chapter 18 13. Family Programs
Part 19 Appendix A: Annotated Bibliography of ASL Resources
Part 20 Appendix B: Annotated Bibliography of Materials to Use with Sign Language
Part 21 Appendix C: Games and Crafts to Use in ASL Programs
Part 22 Appendix D: Glossary of Terms Relating to Sign Language and Deafness
Part 23 Appendix E: Glossary of Useful Signs
Part 24 Works Cited
Part 25 Index
Part 26 About the Author