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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - Boston Public Library (BPL) is now offering video interpretation services at every single one of it's branch locations, ensuring everything the Library has to offer is accessible to all patrons.
BPL has long been putting accessibility to literature at the forefront of it's mission. It was the first large, free municipal library in the country, the first to lend books, the first to have a branch library location and the first to have a children's room.
The video interpretation service is partnered with the Mayor's Disabilities Commission, the Mayor's Office of Language and Communications Access, and the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. will now be available through Certified Language Interpreters (CLI). Users will be instantly connected to Certified Language Interpreters (CLI) who can assist with ASL or spoken language interpretation in more than 200 languages.
“Our commitment to accessibility and equity translate into one more way we can remove barriers to access, to our collections, spaces, and programs at the Boston Public Library,” said David Leonard, BPL President. “Every visitor who walks through the front doors of a BPL location should enter knowing that the full breadth of BPL offerings is available to them. This video interpretation service is an essential step towards making that a reality, regardless of your primary spoken or written language.”
Patrons can simply walk-in to use the services, which will have designated Chromebooks at every single BPL location. Visitors will also be able to book a scheduled session with interpreters and BPL's career counselors, social workers and financial literacy services.
“To make sure that we are best serving our patrons, we must always keep in mind the complex needs of immigrant communities and how they receive and respond to information about the services available in their neighborhood,” said Roudnie Célestin, BPL Equity Program Officer. “Language competency is already one of the BPL’s specialties through our ESOL offerings. This new service reinforces our dedication to meeting the existing and evolving needs of our patrons.”
BPL offers a vast selection of ESOL courses and resources for language learners of all ages through it's Community Learning Department. For more information, contact the Literacy Services Department at literacyservices@bpl.org or 617-859-2446.
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