NCJ Number
66195
Journal
BOOKMARK Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: SPECIAL EDITION (WINTER 1979) Pages: 79-83
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION OF THE BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY LIBRARY (NEW YORK), INCLUDING THE LIBRARY AT THE ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN ALDEN, N.Y.
Abstract
PART OF THE SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION SERVES THE ERIE COUNTY HOME AND INFIRMARY, ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, ERIE COUNTY HOLDING CENTER, ERIE COUNTY HOLDING CENTER ANNEX IN ALDEN, AND ERIE COUNTY FAMILY COURT DETENTION HOMES, PLUS OTHER FACILITIES. THE DIVISION HAS A CIRCULATION OF ALMOST 140,000 BOOKS A YEAR. THREE LEVELS OF SERVICE ARE OFFERED TO THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS: (1) DIRECT SERVICE TO THE PATRON, (2) SUPPORT SERVICES TO OTHER TRAINED PROFESSIONAL STAFF, AND (3) INSERVICE TRAINING AND STAFF SELF-IMPROVEMENT. THE LARGEST BRANCH IN THE INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION IS HOUSED IN THE ERIE COUNTY HOME AND INFIRMARY, WHICH PRIMARILY SERVES ELDERLY AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED RESIDENTS. THE SECOND LARGEST LIBRARY IS LOCATED AT THE ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN ALDEN, N.Y. HOUSING INMATES SERVING SHORT TERMS OF UP TO 1 YEAR, THIS MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITY TYPIFIES THE OLDER IMAGE OF DULL, COLD PRISON ARCHITECTURE. ITS LIBRARY IS THE BRIGHEST AND LIVELIEST ROOM, WHICH WAS RENOVATED FROM AN OLD FLOUR-ROOM. THIS 2,000 SQUARE FOOT LIBRARY HOUSES A COLLECTION OF OVER 10,000 BOOKS, AS WELL AS TAPES, MAGAZINES, AND INMATES' ARTWORK. IN 1978, EACH INMATE TOOK OUT AN AVERAGE OF 10 BOOKS PER MONTH. AT LEAST 40 PERCENT OF THE BOOKS ARE PAPERBACKS. THE BOOKS INCLUDE BESTSELLERS AND BOOKS THAT CAN BE RELATED TO THE INMATES' BACKGROUNDS AND LIFESTYLES. MATERIALS NEEDED FOR CLASSES AND TUTORING ARE ALSO PROVIDED. DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING LEGAL MATERIAL ARE BEING RESOLVED, AND A LAW COLLECTION IS SLOWLY BEING BUILT. THE ARTICLE ALSO BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE LIBRARY SERVICES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS NURSING HOMES AND DETENTION HOMES. THE INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES DIVISION OPERATES ON THE PREMISE THAT PEOPLE LOCKED AWAY IN INSTITUTIONS ARE PART OF SOCIETY AND SHOULD HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT OF FREE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND RELAXATION PROVIDED BY A LIBRARY AS THE PATRONS OF A WEALTHY SUBURBAN-AREA LIBRARY. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 66192. (PRG)