major bookstore chain--ugggh!

[Angus B. Grieve-Smith]

        The original Barnes and Noble in New York is much more
academically oriented -- but that means that the signed-language books
are placed in the medical/nursing section!

--
                        -Angus B. Grieve-Smith
                        Linguistics Department
                        University of New Mexico
                        grvsmth at unm.edu

On Fri, 11 Feb 2000, Linda Lee Lonning wrote:

> Hello everyone--
>
> An aside on how we see signed languages treated in terms of their
> recognition in their placement in libraries and even in bookstores.  (I
> read the ISO one initial email realllly quickly so excuse me if I'm not
> capturing the essence of what ISO is exactly used for.)
>
> It has always rubbed me the wrong way as I peruse my area bookstores here
> in Milwaukee (I'm talking specifically about our Barnes and Noble chain
> here) to see ASL  **NOT** in the section for foreign languages (in the
> case of ASL, and many other languages being present, please excuse the
> reference to "foreign" in this case...but you see my point)...but they
> place them in the *reference section (with the dictionaries, after all,
> you can "learn" sign language by just memorizing a bunch of pictures,
> right??  Uhhh!  ...OR I also see sign language books placed by the
> enlarged-print books!  (After all, that's what sign language is, right?
> An auxillary "device" or mechanism for communication, right??
> Double-uhhh!!)
>
> I've asked personel at each book store what their rationale is for the
> placement of sign language books where they are and explained that it
> would more fairly placed at least with the "foreign" languages.  I've
> submitted a feedback card to their regional or corporate office (where
> ever that one was supposed to go)...NO response at all.  I was told I
> should write something like their regional headquarters, etc.  Wow.  How
> customer-friendly (?!)  BUT I'm told, the placement of media for Barnes
> and Noble is decided higher up.
>
> I encourage folks to stop in their local bookstores/chains and check-out
> where sign language/Deaf culture books are placed as well.  Let me know
> what you find-- ;) .
>
> Linda L. Lonning, BS, CI & CT
> University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Part-time Staff Interpreter
> Community-based Interpreter with 3 Area Agencies
>