| Most of us think of closed captioning as something we | | | | libraries stocking only books are long gone! It began |
| use only in our private residences, whether such | | | | with VHS tapes and now most libraries maintain an |
| captioning is a need or simply a convenience. But | | | | extensive selection of DVDs as well. In order to |
| under Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act | | | | comply with the ADA and to provide full access to the |
| (ADA), sites classified as "public accommodations" | | | | deaf and hard of hearing, for many years the |
| must avail themselves to those who the act protects. | | | | American Library Association has recommended that |
| While this law physically manifests itself in a greater | | | | all newly acquired video assets contain closed |
| number of architectural access points, like wheelchair | | | | captions. Depending on the availability of funds, many |
| ramps and handicapped bathroom stalls, what about | | | | libraries have also paid to have their existing video |
| the millions of Americans disabled with hearing | | | | assets closed captioned as well. For collegiate libraries, |
| impairments? These people are instead helped out in | | | | a university knows who its hearing impaired students |
| public placed by open or closed captioning. Open | | | | are and must provide them with the captioning they |
| captions are burned onto the video, whereas closed | | | | need. Employing close captioning technology may also |
| captions may be turned on and off. | | | | be a cost savings to the institution, as it will not have to |
| Granted, most public accommodations will have no | | | | hire a signer full-time; the hearing impaired student |
| occasion to feature open or closed captioning, since | | | | instead can watch a video with closed captions. |
| captioning is inherently a feature of video. But there | | | | Although the ADA does contain provisions for |
| are many, particularly educational institutions, where | | | | televised closed captioning, it is most publicly seen in |
| captioning is a daily sight. Take, for example, museums. | | | | the use of open and closed captions in public |
| Museums of history or science may play several | | | | institutions. Today, if you step into a museum, library, or |
| different videos per exhibit; all must feature open or | | | | other accommodation with video playing, you will likely |
| closed captioning for their hearing impaired visitors. | | | | see open or closed captions playing along with it. Even |
| Even art museums are part of the trend, with more | | | | if captioning is not something you personally need, |
| and more special exhibitions featuring education video - | | | | there are many others who would be lost without it. |
| all of these must include open or closed captions. | | | | Closed captioning companies like Video Caption |
| Libraries, especially on college campuses, are another | | | | Corporation in New York diligently provide closed |
| class of public accommodations that have come to | | | | captioning for both broadcast and public |
| show more videos with closed captions. The days of | | | | accommodations. |