InterpNET

Welcome to InterpNET - A new Prototype Website!

Discover the world's most comprehensive open, interactive digital database of resources for the field of signed language interpreting. Developed by a team at the National Technical Institute of Technology in 2022, InterpNET is your gateway to a vast collection of video resources, organizations, agencies, and literature dedicated to the art and science of signed language interpreting. With a user-friendly interface, InterpNET empowers professionals, researchers, educators, and students to explore a wealth of knowledge in the field. Our database houses thousands of links to journals, books, laws and regulations, certifications, historical information, educational resources, and cultural networks. Whether you're seeking in-depth research materials, teaching aids, or simply looking to expand your understanding of signed language interpreting, InterpNET has you covered.

What sets InterpNET apart is its commitment to collaborative participation. We encourage users to actively contribute to the growth of the database, making it a dynamic hub of information. By leveraging the collective expertise of the community, we strive to foster a vibrant ecosystem that fuels innovation, learning, and professional development. As a free resource, InterpNET is dedicated to supporting the search and retrieval of categorized information. Our aim is to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, interpreting, and research both globally and personally. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring interpreter, or a curious mind, InterpNET is here to empower and enrich your journey. Join us in unlocking the boundless potential of signed language interpreting. Explore InterpNET today and witness the transformative power of knowledge.

*Note: InterpNET is still in the prototype stage. We aim to procure more funding to enhance the searchability, add content, and make adjustments based on usage. 

Why InterpNET was Created

Hi, I’m Kierstin Muroski, developer of InterpNET and I’d like to take a minute to share with you why I wanted to create this website. I’ve been an interpreter and interpreter educator for over 20 years and most of those years I worked in rural and isolated environments. Like other interpreter educators, I have been collecting books, articles, videos, and websites since I started teaching. I’ve spent every summer searching for resources to support my teaching interpreting - in fact, a few years ago I got an email from GoReact, letting me know I had more videos in my teaching library than anyone else in the country! When I got that email I thought “I wish I could share my resources with other people so they won’t have to spend their summers looking for the same resources”. Not long after that, I decided to go back to school to earn my PhD in Interpretation and Translation from Gallaudet University and I knew that my dissertation would be focused on resources for signed language interpreters. If you’re interested, here is my dissertation. Three years ago, I was hired by the Rochester Institute of Technology | National Technical Institute of the Deaf to teach and research signed language interpreting. The first day I started working, I started building the InterpNET website. I’ve met the most wonderful people who have collaborated with me on this project (make sure to see the “Meet our Team” section below) and I’ve learned a great deal about the incredible work being done to support the Deaf community and the interpreting profession. I am moved by the thousands of initiatives being championed by groups and individuals and hope that curating the resources will shine a light on the work and support the profession in a positive way.

Who is InterpNET for?

InterpNET is particularly useful for individuals interested in the field of signed language interpreting, including educators, students, researchers, and practitioners. The website is designed to support teaching, learning, interpreting, and research, both globally and personally. The database's categorization and search functions make it easy for users to find specific information and resources related to their areas of interest or expertise. Overall, InterpNET is a valuable tool for individuals seeking to enhance their understanding of signed language interpreting and related topics.

How to Use InterpNET

Welcome to InterpNET- your comprehensive gateway to the world of the Signed Language Interpreting profession! Whether you're an interpreter, interpreter educator, interpreting student, researcher, or just interested in interpreting, InterpNET provides a user-friendly interface to explore a vast repository of digital content, books, and journals.

Please notice that the content in Interpnet has been mindfully categorized. The categories are meant to be both helpful and respectful. They are helpful in the way that you can open a particular heading to find related content and to see what all is available using just a few clicks. The categories (Deaf Life & Culture, Interpreting Resources, US States, Books, Journals) allow people to drive straight to the content they seek. The categories are respectful in that content has been divided by resources that have been created for the Deaf community and for the interpreting community. This differentiation is important as we click through the site - I ask that you enter the "Deaf Life and Culture" page with appreciation for the ability to enter a Deaf-intentioned space as these resources were not meant for interpreters, but the information does inform and support our work for the Deaf community.   And always, if you prefer, you can simply enter keywords in the search bar to find what you are looking for. (*Please note that this is a prototype and not all keyword entries are functional - patience is requested.)

Helpful Tips:

Click on WORDS - NOT IMAGES

Use the display button to change how you see the content (options: Line-view OR Grid-view)

What is Crowdsourcing?

Crowdsourcing for a digital repository allows users to actively participate in preserving and enriching the website's resources. If you have valuable content that can fill the gaps of the InterpNET digital repository, take the opportunity to share it through the provided link on the horizontal navigation bar called “Add a Link”. It takes less than a minute to contribute: when you click “Add a Link” you simply paste the website address you’d like to see added and answer a few other short questions. Your contribution could make a lasting impact on the repository and be enjoyed by users worldwide. So, if you have a passion for preserving history, sharing knowledge, or contributing to a vast digital archive, contribute a link to InterpNET today and become part of a global community dedicated to preserving and promoting our digital heritage!

Our Team of Creators

This initiative would not have been possible without an incredible team of faculty, staff, and students at RIT|NTID.

Kierstin Muroski, Content Collector/Curator, Site Developer (NTID Faculty, RITE Lab Director)

Joan Naturale, Content Curator (NTID Librarian/Deaf Studies Archive Liaison)

Rebekah Walker, Omeka Designer (RIT Digital Humanities/Social Science Librarian)

Christina Wrynn, US States Content Collector (NTID Honors Student)

Kirk Anne, Content Engineer (RIT ITS Research Computing Center Director)

Stephen Jacobs, Funding Co-PI & Project Mentorship (Open@RIT Director)

Hanul Morgan, Digital Humanities Co-op user Interface Designer (RIT Student)

Erich Snell, Digital Humanities Co-op Web Designer (RIT Student)

Misha Szende, Library Web Designer (RIT Student)

Sunil Sharma, Content Retriever (NTID Research Assistant)

Lyn Eastman, Content Augmentor (NTID Research Assistant)

Jaide Winant, Content Collector & Augmentor (NTID Research Fellow)