NCJ Number
75401
Journal
Library Trends Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (Summer 1977) Pages: 125-137
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article surveys seven factors which have influenced the growing relationship and cooperation between public libraries and correctional facilities.
Abstract
A growing awareness of the public library's responsibility to serve the disadvantaged was one of the first factors in establishing public library services to correctional facilities. Another was the inclusion of recommendations for services by public libraries in libraries in library standards for correctional facilities. Another was the inclusion of recommendations for services by public libraries in library standards for correctional facilities, public library systems, and State library agencies. The trend to organize all libraries into systems and networks was another factor in promoting cooperation between public libraries and correctional institutions. A fourth factor was the rulings on recent court cases concerning the provision of library services to prisons. These cases have supported adequate library collections and services in prisons and jails. Such services were unlikely to be made available without the cooperation of the public libraries. Expressions of support by inmates in correctional facilities have been a fifth factor in promoting cooperation between public libraries and correctional facilities. In addition, there have been recent trends in the sociology of corrections to provide prisoners with access to society during incarceration and upon reentry into the community. Finally, of all the factors which have encouraged this relationship, none has had a greater influence than the Federal funds, which have been available since the late 1960's. The future relationship between public libraries and correctional facilities appears promising. A list of 59 notes and a list of acronyms are appended.