Library and board discuss accessibility for deaf patrons and Propio language service rollout

Councilors pressed library staff on accessibility for Deaf residents and the status of a proposed Propio language service. During questioning, council members said residents from the deaf community have found it challenging to access some services.

"We're very close. So they should be, you know, in before the end of the year," the supervisor said of Propio deployment. Jennifer Rees Taggart explained Propio will be available as a laptop-based one-on-one service but will not replace live interpreting for larger programs. "For the programs... the laptop won't work. Then it's back to, you know, literally interpreting. Interpreting is expensive," she said, noting the town uses a vendor for interpreting and that sometimes families do not show, increasing costs.

Board members suggested exploring whether the town's contract or existing vendor arrangements could create synergies to reduce per-event costs. Library staff said they can request interpreting with at least a week’s notice and that grants and the Friends group help fund many accessibility supports. The board asked finance staff to consider whether budget lines could better accommodate interpreting needs for public programs.