Prison Librarianship Policy and Practice

Prison Librarianship Policy and Practice

Author: Suzanna Conrad

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2016-11-10

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1476627029

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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.