NCJ Number
41424
Journal
Wilson Library Bulletin Volume: 51 Issue: 6 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 530-533
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
BOOK-DISCUSSION GROUPS MAY BE A MEANS TO CHANGE INMATES' ATTITUDES TOWARD EMOTIONALLY LADEN CONCEPTS; THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS RESULTS OF SUCH A BIBLIOTHERAPY EXPERIMENT IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (TDC).
Abstract
INCLUDED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SET UP A BIBLIOTHERAPY PROJECT IN A PRISON AND ADVICE ON HOW TO SELECT AND TRAIN BOOK-DISCUSSION LEADERS. BOOKS TO BE DISCUSSED WERE CHOSEN BY THE DISCUSSION LEADERS AND TDC LIBRARIANS. BASICALLY, BOOKS WERE JUDGED ON THEIR RELEVANCE TO THE INMATES' LIVES, READING LEVEL AND APPEAL, AND TREATMENT OF THE CONCEPTS DEALT WITH IN DISCUSSION GROUPS. ATTITUDE CHANGES WERE MEASURED BY PRE- AND POST-TESTING. A LIST OF BOOKS USED IN THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE READING GROUP'S RACIAL ATTITUDES BECAME MORE POSIIVE THAN THOSE OF A CONTROL GROUP RECEIVING AN ACTIVITY PROGRAM RATHER THAN A READING PROGRAM....DMC