Prison librarianship policy and practice / Suzanna Conrad.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Conrad, Suzanna, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prison libraries--United States.

Prison libraries.

Libraries and prisons--United States.

Libraries and prisons.

Prison libraries--Law and legislation--United States.

United States.

Physical Description:

viii, 216 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2017]

Summary:

Prisoners are in a grey area regarding library services. Prison libraries violate many tenets of librarianship, with the justification of maintaining order. The field is de-professionalized-many positions are filled by persons without degrees in library science, and corrections administrators often write policy for services. Critics cite the need to implement public library service models despite practical difficulties. This book investigates state, national and international policies on prison libraries, reviews literature on the topic and describes partnerships between prisons and public libraries. Results from a national survey and follow-up interviews are included, providing a full narrative of policy outcomes in U.S. prisons. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I: The prison library in context : current and historic purposes and policies of prison libraries

1. Current and historic national policy

2. Current state policy

3. Literature on key issues in prison librarianship

Part II: Neglect and disadvantage : the prison library as the forgotten field of librarianship

4. Court cases affecting the prisoner's right to read

5. Court cases affecting the prisoner's right of access to the courts

6. The neglected profession

7. The prisoner as the public library patron

Part III: Research and discovery

8. Current policies in prison librarianship : an expanded survey

9. Prison librarianship in practice : interviews with prison librarians

Conclusion : revisiting the role of the prison librarian

Appendix A: Summary of state approaches to prison library services

Appendix B: ALA advocacy policies

Appendix C: List of citations on prison librarianship.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-212) and index.

ISBN:

9781476666334

1476666334

OCLC:

952547474

Publisher Number:

99970255032