Prison Librarianship Policy and Practice

by Suzanna Conrad

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476627021
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	11/10/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Suzanna Conrad is the Dean of University Libraries at Towson University. Her research interests include human-computer interaction, scholarly communication and ethics in librarianship.
Suzanna Conrad is the Dean of University Libraries at Towson University. Her research interests include human-computer interaction, scholarly communication and ethics in librarianship.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
List of Abbreviations
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
Chapter Notes
References
Index