Library Services to the Incarcerated: Applying the Public Library Model in Correctional Facility Libraries

by Sheila Clark, Erica MacCreaigh

Learn how to provide exemplary library service to individuals in prison or jail, by applying the public library model when working with inmate populations. These authors, a jail librarian and an outreach librarian, offer a wealth of insights and ideas, answering questions about facilities and equipment, collection development, services and programming; computers and the Internet; managing human resources, including volunteers and inmate workers; budgeting and funding; and advocacy within the facility and in the community. The approach is practical and down-to-earth, with numerous examples and anecdotes to illustrate concepts.

More than 2 million adults are serving time in correctional facilities, and hundreds of thousands of youth are in juvenile detention centers. There are more than 1,300 prisons and jails in the United States, and about a third as many juvenile detention centers. Inmates, as much or more than the general population, need information and library services. They represent one of the most challenging and most grateful populations you, as a librarian, can work with. This book is intended to aid librarians whose responsibilities include serving the incarcerated, either as full-time jail or prison librarians, or as public librarians who provide outreach services to correctional facilities. It is also of interest to library school students considering careers in prison librarianship. The authors, a jail librarian and an outreach librarian, show how you can apply the public library model to inmate populations, and provide exemplary library service. They offer a wealth of ideas, answering questions about facilities and equipment, collection development, services and programming; computers and the Internet; managing human resources, including volunteers and inmate workers; budgeting and funding; and advocacy within the facility and in the community. The approach is practical and down-to-earth, with numerous examples and anecdotes to illustrate ideas.

Genres: Library Science, Librarianship, Nonfiction, Professional Development

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I'm re-reading my own book. I gave it five stars to stuff the ballot box. Currently, I'm the only person on this website who's even heard of this book, so hopefully someone will be doing a five-star title search and stumble across my baby.

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I can call this book good or bad, it's just like, the only one on the subject I could find. I was reticent when I started reading it because 18 years is generally way too old for a career book. But, I continued reading anyway, because I knew nothing and I figured something was better than nothing.

This book has shored up my thought that corrections is not for me. It's not great that I'm reading this 11 months into working at a prison library. Perhaps if I read it first I could have avoided the disaster of taking this job.

To some degree this book gave me a little comfort that I'm not surrounded by crazy people, it's just corrections. I think they give very smart advice about one's place in the overall organization.

There are a few outdated references but for my money it seemed like an ok book to let people know about what it's like to work in this environment.

[Bdalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approximately 2.38 million Americans are being held in either federal or state prisons. Nationally the prison inmate population grew by 2.6 percent between 1995 and 2005. In Colorado, during this same period, the inmate population increased by 6.8 percent. Many Coloradans see reducing recidivism as a key factor in controlling the size of the prison population and government spending, since ninety to ninety-five percent of prisoners will be released and one of every two ex-convicts will return to prison within three years. Prison libraries are a key component in the fight to reduce recidivism because they provide the opportunity for education and change. Sheila Clark and Erica MacCreigh’s book, Library Services to the Incarcerated: Applying the Public Library Model in Correctional Facility Libraries, should be of interest not only to prison librarians, but also to public librarians who deal with ex-offenders and with the population as a whole since this book deals with issues that have broader public implications. In addition, the book is truly entertaining, informational, and inspirational as it shows how prison librarians honor ALA’s highest ideals while abiding by the correctional facility rules. If prison librarians can use humor, diplomacy and common sense to provide professional and ethical service, surely other librarians can apply these same lessons to less daunting environments.

MacCreigh and Clark explain that most prisoners are grateful customers. The authors include many straight-forward, yet poignant and funny anecdotes that explain the challenges and rewards of dealing with the residents and staff of prisons. For example, here is a quote from the book’s sexual harassment section: “Most librarians are women. Most residents and employees of correctional facilities are men. And many of those men have been locked up for a long time or work shift hours that preclude a normal social life. Any questions?” The advice that follows about sexual harassment is equally straightforward. Do not tolerate it and draw the line.

The descriptive nature of the book makes it a wonderful resource for anyone considering working in a prison. Since many prison librarians deal with all aspects of librarianship, the book also covers many of the logistics of running any special library, including facilities, equipment, technology, collection development, service programming, human resources, budgeting and financing, and advocacy. Because of the comprehensive nature of the book, library schools may wish to consider including this in introductory classes regarding the information user or the information environment. While working with the incarcerated does seem challenging, the practical, down-to-earth tone of the book does successfully sell this career path to those who desire an interesting and varied work day.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For being kind of a heavy topic, this book managed to be super informative, intriguing, humorous at times (definitely helped with the tone of the book), and downright inspiring. I loved it! This is a great book to read if you're considering working in a prison library. While I don't want that to be my sole job (I love being a teen librarian!) I would like to offer book talks/programs/book-carts to the local county jail instead of just to the juvenile detention facility. The authors are right, it's a unique opportunity to help out one of the most underserved populations in the county! I would rather my tax dollars go to help inmates get back on their feet and become better educated and informed citizens then having them get back into the real world and recommit all their crimes. Libraries can help out prisoners in their time of need and vastly change their lives on the inside so that when they go back outside they have a new perspective, they know they're not worthless and they're not alone. Studies have shown that one in every fifteen Americans will go to jail or prison at least once in their lives. That's a pretty high figure! While you can't help or reform everyone behind bars, you can give them an opportunity. Sometimes the smallest thing, a book, can make all the difference!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Researching working in a prison library and found this book to be very helpful. Details what kind of patrons you can expect, what kind of work you will do and what kind of policies and procedures that may affect that.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly informative book. It's an absolute must-read if you're going to work in this area of the field.