NCJ Number
65005
Date Published
1974
Length
57 pages
Annotation
THE FORMATION AND SUBSTANCE OF A UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LIBRARY SCIENCE COURSE ON JAIL AND PRISON LIBRARIES ARE DESCRIBED, AND A STUDENT PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRISON LIBRARY IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
STIMULATED BY THE INITIATIVE AND EXPERIENCES OF SEVERAL UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A JAIL LIBRARY, THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED A COURSE IN THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE WHICH FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON JAIL AND PRISON LIBRARIES. THE COURSE INTRODUCES PROSPECTIVE LIBRARIANS TO ALL FEATURES OF PENAL LIBRARIANSHIP THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE INTEGRATION OF THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. AS PART OF THEIR COURSE WORK, A NUMBER OF STUDENTS COMPOSED A PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRISON LIBRARY, BASED ON A LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN WORKING WITH PRISON LIBRARIES OVER THE DURATION OF THE COURSE. GENERAL COMPONENTS PROPOSED FOR THE LIBRARY ARE THE REFERENCE COLLECTION, WHICH WILL SUPPLEMENT THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND INVITE THE INMATE TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL TOPICS SUGGESTED BY REGULAR STUDIES; THE VOCATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER, WHICH WILL PRESENT INFORMATION ON A WIDE RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS; AND A GENERAL COLLECTION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE LEISURE READING AND INFORMATION OF GENERAL INTEREST. LEGAL INFORMATION WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE EITHER IN A SEPARATE LAW LIBRARY OR A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE GENERAL LIBRARY. PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING THE LIBRARY COLLECTION, TRAINING THE INMATE STAFF, PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY, AND LIBRARY SERVICES ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE LIBRARY'S PHYSICAL PLANT. A LIST OF BASIC BOOKS FOR A PRISON LIBRARY IS PRESENTED, CATEGORIZED ACCORDING TO LIBRARY COMPONENT. (RCB)