Layna Nurse and Isabel Choi discuss True Biz with a Falvey patron.

This spring Falvey is proud to promote One Book, One Philadelphia. From April 8 to May 22, the Free Library of Philadelphia will offer events to “foster literacy, library usage, and civic dialogue through all corners of the city.” For more information on the One Book, One Philadelphia events: visit this link.

One of the 2024 One Book, One Philadelphia Selections is True Biz by Sara Nović. The fictional novel, centered around three characters at the River Valley School for the Deaf, focuses on “themes of belonging, autonomy, and the importance of self-expression…True Biz shows the rich history and culture of Deaf communities.” Want to read True Biz online? Check out Falvey’s eBook!

The Villanova community had the opportunity to enter in a drawing to win copies of True Biz and a pocket sign language dictionary on Wednesday, April 17-19. Winners will be announced soon–Stay tuned! The informational table (pictured above), sponsored by the Falvey Library DEI Committee provided students with helpful resources. Join Falvey Library this September for Deaf Awareness Month. Falvey’s DEI Committee and the Deaf Studies Program at Villanova will host a panel book discussion on True Biz and Deaf culture.

Interested in learning more about ASL and Deaf culture at Villanova? Check out the new Deaf Studies minor! Looking for more resources? No list of this nature could ever be comprehensive, but we hope these eBooks available at Falvey will serve as a starting point.

Open Your Eyes: Deaf Studies Talking by H-Dirksen L. Bauman
Deaf Gain: Raising the Stakes for Human Diversity by H-Dirksen L.Bauman and Joseph J. Murray
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir – and a Love Letter to a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week.

Did you know that Deaf people have their own culture? Although often labeled as a disability by hearing society at large, Deaf people are fighting back against this notion. Instead, they contend that their supposed “disability” is actually the foundation of a rich culture here in the U.S. and elsewhere. In celebration of International Week of Deaf People, this weekend’s recs will highlight some key aspects of Deaf culture.

If you have 1 minute…and are unsure about the correct terminology, watch this TikTok. It explains why “Deaf” is the preferred label, and why “hearing impaired” can be viewed as offensive or outdated.

If you have 3 minutes…and want to check out some music made by a Deaf artist, listen to “Hanaa!,” or any song by Signmark. He is a Deaf rapper from Finland who often signs while he raps.

If you have 5 minutes…and are wondering how Deaf culture differs from hearing culture, read this article that explains some of the differences.

If you have 7 minutes…and were wondering why the “D” in Deaf is often capitalized, read this article about how people identify themselves as a part of the Deaf community. Spoiler: deaf and Deaf do not mean the same thing, and not all deaf people identify as Deaf.

Photo by SHVETS production

If you have 10 minutes…and have some questions about deafness and Deaf culture, browse this Deaf culture FAQ page. It might save you from a potentially awkward or embarrassing interaction or from bothering a deaf person with frequently asked questions.

If you have 15 minutes…and want to learn more about the fight for a Deaf president at the only Deaf-centric university in the world, watch this TED Talk with Irisa MacAulay. Warning: although Irisa, the presenter, gives an absolutely amazing talk, the camera often switches angles, making it difficult to understand her ASL without using subtitles or listening to the interpreter.

If you have 1 hour and 35 minutes…and like (corny) old horror movies, watch Deafula. The film features ASL as the primary language with an English dub for hearing people and is available through inter-library loan.

If you have 1 hour and 51 minutes…and want to watch a more recent movie that showcases Deaf culture, watch CODA. This award-winning film specifically focuses on the story of a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) who discovers her passion for music.

If you have 12 or more hours…and want a deep-dive into Deaf history, read Gannon’s Deaf Heritage: A Narrative History of Deaf America. The book moves through Deaf history in America by decade and even features an entire chapter dedicated to Deaf humor.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.