About Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library
Video Description:
0:00 – 0:07 seconds: April Woodward-Jackson, a black female signer, has natural black hair pulled up into a high-bun ponytail. She wears bright yellow hoop earrings and a dark yellow t-shirt underneath a short-sleeved pink sweater. April stands in front of a partitioned desk that has white walls and a wooden bannister. In the background behind her, there’s a birds-eye view of tall blue columns, windows, and a library section that states New Fiction on the wall.
0:07 – 0:47 seconds: Daniella Reyna, a Hispanic female signer, has long black hair and wears a short sleeved black t-shirt with long silver necklace. She stands in front of the Maryland DCDL physical collection at Germantown Library in Germantown, Maryland. Behind her are various books related to Deaf Culture and flyers promoting ASL classes.
0:47 seconds: The scene goes back to April Jackson-Woodward, a black female signer.
Transcript:
0:00 – 0:07 seconds (signed by April): The Deaf Culture Digital Library is dedicated to providing leadership and guidance in:
0:07 – 0:47 seconds (signed by Daniella):
– offering resources about deaf culture
– acquiring and preserving an excellent collection of deaf resources in digital formats
– furnishing access to information regardless of location
– providing highly competent assistance to Maryland residents, library staff in local public library systems, academic librarians in colleges and universities, and other libraries in the state of Maryland.
0:47 seconds: (Vision Statement signed by April):
All customers shall have equitable access to deaf culture information through the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) in a centralized medium in the State of Maryland.
Vision
All customers shall have equitable access to deaf culture information through the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) in a centralized medium in the state of Maryland.
Mission
Deaf Culture Digital Library is dedicated to providing leadership and guidance in:
- offering resources about deaf culture
- acquiring and preserving an excellent collection of deaf resources in digital formats
- furnishing access to information regardless of location
- providing highly competent assistance to Maryland residents and library staff in local public library systems, academic librarians in colleges and universities, and other libraries in the state of Maryland.
About Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library
Video Description:
0:00 – 0:07 seconds: April Woodward-Jackson, a black female signer, has natural black hair pulled up into a high-bun ponytail. She wears bright yellow hoop earrings and a dark yellow t-shirt underneath a short-sleeved pink sweater. April stands in front of a partitioned desk that has white walls and a wooden bannister. In the background behind her, there’s a birds-eye view of tall blue columns, windows, and a library section that states New Fiction on the wall.
0:07 – 0:47 seconds: Daniella Reyna, a Hispanic female signer, has long black hair and wears a short sleeved black t-shirt with long silver necklace. She stands in front of the Maryland DCDL physical collection at Germantown Library in Germantown, Maryland. Behind her are various books related to Deaf Culture and flyers promoting ASL classes.
0:47 seconds: The scene goes back to April Jackson-Woodward, a black female signer.
Transcript:
0:00 – 0:07 seconds (signed by April): The Deaf Culture Digital Library is dedicated to providing leadership and guidance in:
0:07 – 0:47 seconds (signed by Daniella):
– offering resources about deaf culture
– acquiring and preserving an excellent collection of deaf resources in digital formats
– furnishing access to information regardless of location
– providing highly competent assistance to Maryland residents, library staff in local public library systems, academic librarians in colleges and universities, and other libraries in the state of Maryland.
0:47 seconds: (Vision Statement signed by April):
All customers shall have equitable access to deaf culture information through the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) in a centralized medium in the State of Maryland.
Vision
All customers shall have equitable access to deaf culture information through the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) in a centralized medium in the state of Maryland.
Mission
Deaf Culture Digital Library is dedicated to providing leadership and guidance in:
- offering resources about deaf culture
- acquiring and preserving an excellent collection of deaf resources in digital formats
- furnishing access to information regardless of location
- providing highly competent assistance to Maryland residents and library staff in local public library systems, academic librarians in colleges and universities, and other libraries in the state of Maryland.
History of Maryland DCDL
The DCDL’s journey is not only a timeline of events, but also a story of dedication, collaboration, and innovation. From hiring talented staff, to developing a website that understands the needs and preferences of the deaf community, the DCDL has always strived to deliver the best possible service and experience. Along the way, the DCDL has also sponsored programs and events that celebrate and promote deaf culture. The DCDL is not just a digital library; it is a shining example of the power and beauty of deaf culture.
Meet The Staff & Library Advisory Board
Brandt Van Unen
Coordinator
Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library
Brandt Van Unen is the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library’s Coordinator. He has previously worked as an academic librarian for Austin Community College District and Alamo Colleges District in Texas. He has a dual bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and History from Texas State University, a master’s degree in Information Studies from University of Texas at Austin, and a master’s degree in History from Sam Houston State University. His love of puns may make anyone want to book it but his passion for serving the Deaf community is easy to check out with many happy returns.
Keith Delk
Program Specialist I
Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library
Keith Delk is the Maryland Deaf Culture Program Specialist. He is committed to staying ahead of the rapidly changing technology landscape to create modern and inclusive experiences for all. He has a Bachelor’s degree in New Media Design from Rochester Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing Master’s Degree in Accessible Human Centered Computing at Gallaudet University. He spends his recreational time in the backcountry with his dog companion, Rufus Artmeis, and helps host ASL Trivia every month in Washington, D.C.
Ricardo Lopez
Chair
Ricardo Lopez, a native of Puerto Rico, is a longtime resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. He has earned a Master of Science in Educational Technology/Special Education from Gallaudet University and a Master of Library Science – School Library Media Specialist from the University of Maryland at College Park. Mr. Lopez is currently employed at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, a division of Gallaudet University. He was past president of National Literary Society of the Deaf and has been called on occasions to give presentations on Deaf History.
Tyrese Wright
Board Member
Ms. Tyese Wright graduated from Gallaudet University with a degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Wright earned her master’s degree in Counseling from Trinity University in 2005. Her career has included teaching students enrolled in kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs and serving as a Family Educator/Counselor for students in grades 1-8 at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. She is currently the Transition Specialist for the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. At the present time, she is a board member of District of Columbia Area Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.
Sonya Smith
Board Member
Sonya Smith is the Programs and Communications Manager for the Maryland Governor’s Office of Deaf and Hard of hearing.
Sonya was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the Rochester Institute of Technology. That year she also relocated to Maryland to work and was crowned in 2017 as Miss Black Deaf America at the National Black Deaf Advocates Convention in Baltimore, MD. Sonya embraces diversity and enjoys learning about different cultural beliefs and new perspectives while not giving into discrimination. Sonya continues to take advantage of opportunities to grow and to develop advanced leadership skills. Sonya is passionate about helping others to ensure that they are able to develop self confidence, gain motivation to pursue their dreams, overcome barriers, and reject any boundaries or limits. Sonya is driven by deep faith and her spirituality.
Amy Crumrine
Board Member
Amy Crumrine has been deaf since the age of 10 months. She is a lifelong resident of Maryland where she grew up in Silver Spring and is now residing in Germantown. She has many hats and is involved in various organizations across the nation. Her biggest accomplishment is establishing CueSign, Inc.; this is an organization that believes all deaf children should have visual access to language. In her real life, she is an ASL teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and is an ASL curriculum coordinator for the North Carolina Virtual School system. She is a wife to her high school sweetheart, Roy, and a mom to her two hearing adult children, Rosemary and Paul.
Alli Jessing
Library Representative
Howard County Library Systems
Allison Jessing is the Head of Adult Curriculum at Howard County Library System. Prior to joining HCLS in 2015, she worked at both the National Archives Museum and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC as an interpretive educator. Allison holds a MFA from Boston University and a BFA from Kansas City Art Institute. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, she now resides in Ellicott City, MD.
Irene Padilla
State Librarian
Maryland State Library
Irene Padilla, the Maryland State Librarian, serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland State Library Agency. Padilla works with State and federal programs to improve library services in the 24 public library systems in the State of Maryland, the State Library Resource Center (SLRC), Sailor and Regional Resource Center programs. She also oversees the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) and the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library (MD DCDL). Irene has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature and Master of Library Science (MLS) from Western Michigan University. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from George Mason University.