NCJ Number
80525
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1980) Pages: 75-84
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The variation in book selection procedures, censorship policies, and training of librarians in correctional institutions across the country is documented.
Abstract
Interviews were conducted with 28 inmates while they were serving time in correctional facilities in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Inmates reported that the library was important to them for entertainment, information, and personal growth. Strong points of the libraries were reported to be the Enoch Pratt lending system and librarian efforts to secure the books requested by inmates. Weak points were indicated to be lack of a firm schedule of hours, weekend closings, poor circulation, insufficient material, and insufficient copies of law books. Further, a 2-page questionnaire was mailed to a selected sample of the 50 most populated prisons listed in the American Correctional Association directory. Responses were received from 34 of the librarians representing all the major regions. The types of reading material cited most frequently as appropriate for censorship were books that pose a threat to security and hardcore pornography. Definitions of publications fitting these categories varied. Slightly less than one-third of the respondents have the final responsibility for making acquisitions. Twenty-five of the 34 respondents did not have formal training in a graduate school of library science. Considering the importance of libraries to inmates, efforts should be made to hire professional librarians. Tabular data and five references are provided.