A '''language bank''' is an organization that helps people who need translation or interpretation services fulfill those needs through the assistance of qualified translators or interpreters. Such organizations usually, but not always, provide such services free of charge, often as a service of local government. Language banks often service immigrant or refugee communities,<ref>{{cite news | first=Lindsey | last=Rowe | title=Volunteer translators break down barriers | date= August 3, 2004 | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/local/184671_redcross03.html | work =Seattle Post Intelligencer | access-date = 2008-04-18 }}</ref> often in collaboration with health service providers such as the American Red Cross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atanet.org/red_cross/ |title=ATA and American Red Cross Recruit Volunteer Interpreters |access-date=2008-04-18 |publisher=American Translators Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701210915/http://www.atanet.org/red_cross/ |archive-date=2007-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Various sorts of businesses also manage internal language service needs by setting up language banks. Often, employees with language skills may donate a part of their work time to participating in language banks.
<ref>{{cite news | first=Corey | last=Kilgannon | title= Queens Hospitals Learn Many Ways to Say 'Ah' | date=2005-03-15 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/15/nyregion/15hospital.html | work =The New York Times | pages =B1 | access-date = 2008-04-19 }}</ref> In this circumstance it may be referred to as an "Employee Language Bank."
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Translation organizations
{{Lang-stub}} {{translation-org-stub}}