NCJ Number
228379
Date Published
2009
Length
204 pages
Annotation
This book provides information, guidance, and encouragement to those providing library services to prison inmates across the United States, including prison and jail librarians, public librarians, academic librarians, and law librarians.
Abstract
Reflecting the title of the book, "Down for the Count," one of the pieces of advice offered to prison librarians is to know the scheduling of the inmate counts, because it is in between the counts that patrons can come to the library; and it is during the counts (library down time) that the librarian must schedule library maintenance, processing of materials, picking up and delivering mail, and off-premises errands. Such practical advice is offered throughout this book. After reviewing the history of prison libraries, the book provides advice on how the prison library functions, collection management, and how to deal with censorship issues. One chapter discusses the similarities and distinctions between prison libraries and community libraries. Other chapters address the role of technology in prison library services, objectives in deciding what to include in the library collection, and issues in managing the prison law library. Design, furnishings, and equipment are discussed in a chapter on space management. In addition to discussing the practical side of managing a prison library, the book concludes with a chapter entitled, "On Making a Difference," in which the author discusses what a prison library can mean to inmates in relieving the monotony and boredom of prison life, providing windows into the lives of others, fostering dreams of a better life, providing practical guidance on how to deal with personal problems, and supplying information on how to do new tasks. A 62-item reading list, 9 appendixes with supplementary information, and a subject index