PALMDALE – The Palmdale City Library is proud to announce the installation of a free Sorenson videophone, a device that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing callers to conduct conversations through a video relay system using American Sign Language (ASL).
“We are pleased to offer this valuable resource to help our deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons with a faster and better method of communication than ever before,” said Library Assistant Shay Hawken. “This empowers them to communicate with both, deaf and hearing family, friends or business contacts using video relay service.”
Users of this service place and receive calls with a professional American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter through the Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS) videophone and a high-speed internet connection. The interpreter appears on the screen, connects them, and relays the conversation between them and the hearing party receiving the call on a standard phone line.
In addition, the services enable hearing callers to contact deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals as well.
“ASL is often the ‘native’ language of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community,” Hawkin said. “This service provides a way to ensure that communication by way of ASL is more readily available.”
The Palmdale City Library is open seven days a week. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm; Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm; and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
For more information, call the Palmdale City Library at 661/267-5600 or TDD 267-5167, or visit www.cityofpalmdale.org/library.
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