New iteration: Basic American Sign Language for Library Staff eCourse

Chicago—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new iteration of our popular eCourse, Basic American Sign Language for Library Staff. Kathy MacMillan will serve as the instructor for a 6-week facilitated eCourse starting on Monday, May 20, 2019.

American Sign Language (ASL) is an invaluable skill for library professionals.  A basic grasp of ASL enhances your ability to serve deaf library users and opens up a new world of possibilities for baby storytime programs. It’s also a marketable professional skill that can translate to public service jobs beyond the library world.

Ideal for those without previous experience, in this eCourse, librarian and ASL interpreter Kathy MacMillan will use readings, multimedia resources, and online discussion boards to introduce basic ASL vocabulary and grammar appropriate for use in a library setting. MacMillan will place ASL within a linguistic and cultural context, aiding participants in improving library services.

eCourse outline

Week 1: Getting Started with ASL

• Introduction: Overview of Course, “The 5 Parts of a Sign”
• Vocabulary  (Introducing Yourself): MY, YOUR, ME, YOU, NAME, WHAT, NICE, MEET,  PLEASE, THANK YOU, EXCUSE ME, SORRY, DEAF, HEARING, YES, NO, the manual alphabet and its purpose
• ASL Grammar: Information-seeking Questions
• Sentence Activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: Terminology and Battling Audism
• Library Services: How to Communicate with Deaf People
• Quiz

Week 2: Around the Library

• Review activity
• Vocabulary: LIBRARY, DESK, INFORMATION, LIBRARIAN, MAN, WOMAN, BATHROOM, WATER, FOUNTAIN, DOOR, CHILDREN, COMPUTER, CLOCK, SODA, COFFEE, EAT/FOOD, DRINK, MACHINE, BOOK, SALE, OPEN, CLOSE, MAGAZINE, BULLETIN BOARD, DVD, CD, AUDIOBOOK, the numbers 0 through 10
• ASL Grammar: Yes/no questions
• Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: Earth vs. Eyeth 
• Library Services: Collection Development of Sign Language Materials
• Quiz

Week 3: At the Circulation Desk

• Review Activity
• Vocabulary: CHECKOUT DESK, PAY, FINE, LIBRARY CARD, OVERDUE, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, RETURN-BOOK, CHECKOUT BOOK, DOLLAR, CENTS, FIRST, LAST, CHANGE, LINEUP, RESERVES, SHELF, MEETING ROOM, CALENDAR, DUE, FREE, money signs,  the numbers 11 through 19
• ASL Grammar: Topic-Comment structure
• Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: Early History of ASL
• Library Services: Services Typically Used by Deaf Patrons
• Quiz

Week 4:  At the Information Desk

• Review Activity
• Vocabulary: Library will close in 5/10/15 minutes, PRINT, COST, sentences, first 5 pages free, FINISH, HELP, GIVE, TIME, FAX, DON’T KNOW, HAVE, WHERE, REQUEST, FORBIDDEN, FICTION, NONFICTION, LAB, WANT, time signs, numbers 20-29
• ASL Grammar: Directional verbs
• Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: ASL in the 20th and 21st centuries
• Library Services: Technologies for Accessibility
• Quiz

Week 5: Programming

• Review Activity
• Vocabulary: PROGRAM, INTERPRETER, REQUEST, REGISTER, CALENDAR, BROCHURE, NAMETAG, TEACH, STORY, MUSIC, CRAFT, COOK, BOOK DISCUSSION, MOM, DAD, SISTER, BROTHER, BABY, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, days of the week, months, numbers 30-66 with doubles
• ASL Grammar: Numerical incorporation and use of space
• Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: Signing Etiquette
• Library Services: Providing Interpreters
• Quiz

Week 6: In the Community

• Review Activity
• Vocabulary: Vocabulary: STORE, BANK, POLICE, FIREFIGHTER, SCHOOL, RESTAURANT, GO-TO, PLAYGROUND, OFFICE, WORK, SPORTS, COLLEGE, GAS STATION, DOCTOR, HOSPITAL, numbers 67-100
• ASL Grammar: Pronouns and space
• Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
• Deaf Culture: Deaf Gain and the Library as a Source of Empowerment
• Library Services: Working with Interpreters
• Quiz

About the Instructor

Kathy MacMillan is a freelance writer and nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter. She is the author of Nita's First Signs (Familius Press), as well as the author or co-author of many books from ALA Editions, including Little Hands & Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together and the Storytime Magic series. She was the library/media specialist at the Maryland School for the Deaf from 2001 to 2005 and has worked in public libraries since 1996.  She presents storytelling programs introducing sign language through Stories By Hand and offers training and resources for enhancing storytimes through Storytime Stuff. Her debut young adult novel, Sword and Verse, was published by HarperCollins in 2016.

Registration for this ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions facilitated eCourse, which begins on May 20, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions (ELS) produces high-quality professional development events and materials for the library profession. ELS events cover modern issues on a wide variety of topics in formats that include live workshops, asynchronous eCourses, and print publications. We help ensure that today’s library employees have access to the professional development opportunities they need, whether they are brushing up on the basics or expanding their horizons with cutting-edge tools. Contact us at elsmarketing@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.