NCJ Number
15704
Date Published
1974
Length
92 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FOCUSED UPON LIBRARY PROGRAMS IN ADULT AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE JURISDICTION.
Abstract
TEN STATES WERE SELECTED WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A REPRESENTATIVE GEOGRAPHICAL, ECONOMICAL, AND CULTURAL SAMPLE. WITHIN EACH OF THE SELECTED STATES, ON-SITE VISITS WERE MADE TO ALL FEDERAL-ADMINISTERED CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND TO AT LEAST ONE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS UNDER STATE ADMINISTRATION: ADULT MALE MAXIMUM SECURITY, ADULT MALE MINIMUM SECURITY, ADULT WOMEN, AND JUVENILE. THE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMS WAS BASED ON FIRST HAND OBSERVATIONS IN SELECTED STATES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS, LIBRARIANS, INMATE LIBRARY USERS AND NON-USERS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND STATE LIBRARY INSTITUTIONAL CONSULTANTS. EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON DEFINING LIBRARY NEEDS OF INMATES AND STAFF, DISCOVERING PROBLEM AREAS AND BARRIERS TO SERVICE, AND DESCRIBING CORRECTIONAL LIBRARY PROGRAMS IN EACH STATE AND IN THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, A MAJOR FINDING WAS THAT THERE IS AN ACUTE NEED FOR IMPROVED LIBRARY SERVICE TO CONFINED PERSONS. - INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARIES HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH LIBRARIES OUTSIDE. THE STUDY SUGGESTED THAT NO ONE PATTERN OF SERVICE IS RIGHT FOR ALL SITUATIONS. FACTORS IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL IN PROVIDING QUALITY LIBRARY SERVICES INCLUDE RECOGNITION OF THE INMATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO READ ALL MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, STABLE FUNDING, AND PARTICIPATION OF INMATES AND STAFF IN DEVELOPING LIBRARY SERVICES. ALMOST 40 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE IN THE AREAS OF PLANNING, FUNDING, INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY, STAFFING, OPERATIONAL POLICIES, AND COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. FOR VOLUMES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR, SEE NCJ-15705, 15706, AND 15707. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)