NCJ Number
14048
Date Published
1974
Length
25 pages
Annotation
PRESENTATION OF A PILOT PROJECT INITIATED BY A TASK FORCE SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PUBLISHERS THROUGH WHICH 10 PRISONS RECEIVED DONATED BOOKS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF PRISONER INTERESTS AT EACH INSTITUTION.
Abstract
THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED IN 1971 INTENDED THAT THE PILOT PROJECT WOULD STIMULATE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXPAND FUNDING FOR LIBRARY SERVICES IN PRISONS. TEN THOUSAND BOOKS VALUED AT $130,000 WERE DONATED TO EIGHT PRISONS IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA, THE STATE PRISON AT CHINO, CALIFORNIA, AND THE FEDERAL PRISON AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. BOOKS WERE SELECTED TO REFLECT THE ETHNIC, RACIAL, SEXUAL, AND RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF EACH PRISON POPULATION. QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY PRISONERS AFTER THE PROJECTS'S FIRST YEAR INDICATED A PREDOMINANTLY POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM. APPENDIXES INCLUDE TASK FORCE CORRESPONDENCE, PRISONER QUESTIONNAIRE SAMPLE, SUMMARY REPORT ON THE PROJECT, AND A LIST OF THE 45 BOOKS MOST BORROWED BY PRISONERS.