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Copyright of Canadian Law Library Review is the property of Canadian Association of Law Libraries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prison libraries have traditionally fulfilled many purposes for their incarcerated patrons, and these libraries often carry a diverse collection to serve varied patron needs. However, during the trial of Steven Hayes for the Petit family murders, the prosecution questioned the collection development policies of the institutions where Hayes had previously been incarcerated, requesting the reading lists in efforts to prove that his salacious choices in literature fueled his crimes. This request by prosecution brought two major issues into question, including (1) the collection development policies of US prison libraries and (2) the question of patron privacy in prison libraries. This article investigates current prison library policies on collection development and confidentiality of patron borrowing records through an exploratory survey of seventeen librarians currently working in correctional institutions throughout the United States. Their responses detail collection development policies in the prison library and present the ambiguity for handling the confidentiality of patron borrowing records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the higher education in the state prison system of Washington with restrictions on internet access as part of conditions for pre-release. It mentions the Providing Associate Degree Education to Enhance Education Opportunities and Public Safety Act of 2017 and Washington prisons are offered via private partnerships like T.E.A.C.H., Freedom Education Project, or University Beyond Bars and depend on volunteer efforts and donations.

The article contributes to the professional discussion of prison librarianship in the context of intellectual freedom and social justice paradigm. It presents results from a nationwide survey of the prison libraries in Croatia. Survey was conducted in 2013 through a mailed questionnaire that received a 91.3% response rate. The study set off to answer the following research questions: How are Croatian prison libraries organised and managed? and What kind of library collections and services are offered to incarcerated persons in Croatia? The results show that almost all correctional institutions in Croatia provide some kind of minimal library services to their inmates. However, prison libraries in Croatia are not professionally managed nor are they regularly funded. Further, their collections are developed mainly through gifts and there is almost no evidence of any systematic programming which would lead to constructive and creative use of prisoners’ free time. Although there are some shining examples, it is evident that prison libraries in Croatia are underdeveloped and in need of a new organisational and financial model. Authors conclude with concrete recommendations for improved library services to this marginalised population in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of issuing a public library card to the inmates which is considered by the Washington State Library (WSL). Topics mention including increasing the collaboration between the state and local agencies, partnership of WSL with Seattle Public Library and Spokane Public Library and registration of new patrons.

The article articulates the information needs of incarcerated people in the New York Public Library's Correctional Services Program. It describes the theory of information poverty as a frame of understanding reference questions students answered. The method and procedures for the project, data resources and collection methods used to teach students enrolled in a core Information Resources Services course are also detailed. An analysis of the letters from incarcerated people is presented.

The article's main objective is to present the state of library organizations Chilean prisons in the period 2010-2012, through basic quantitative indicators. The study identifies and describes three types of library organizations; Libraries, Learning Resource Centers CRA and finally Collections. The results of the study suggest that there are privileged and inmates have access to libraries and represent 12.1% of the prisons. The 62.6 % of the units of the Chilean prison system library services have at least basic, for its population. As for the staff in charge of the library organizations 19.3% are librarians however, 68.4 % of these organizations are run by a professional, whether librarian or teacher. The current Chilean law does not consider the existence of library services in criminal and therefore the foundation and maintenance of libraries or similar institutions depend wills of the relevant authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes a summary on the library services granted by the Romanian public libraries to incarcerated populations and persons with intellectual disabilities. The public libraries cooperate with jail staff and prisoners in different forms - book donations and mobile libraries for the imprisoned, educational and cultural activities, including poetic workshops, even IT classes, support in order to re-integrate into society and fight against prejudice. Regarding the library services to people with autism and Down syndrome, the public libraries have supported them offering a space for information campaigns of those active NGOs in the field, applying bibliotherapy techniques and trying to implement projects, based on the co-operation with different institutional partners, in a whole exhaustive approach. The involvement of the Romanian public libraries toward these disadvantaged user groups clearly indicates a more and more important role in their social inclusion in the last years, offering access to information, education and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the use of libraries in the educational rehabilitation of prisoners in Nigeria. Topics covered include a brief history of prisons in Nigeria, the conditions of prison inmates in Nigeria, and the different purposes of prison libraries. Recommendations for the library to make significant impact on the lives of inmates are also offered including the need to employ professional librarians at such libraries.

Public libraries have long been devoted to reaching out to underserved populations within their communities. Outreach to local correctional facilities is one type of outreach that has not been fully embraced by the public library community. This paper has three aims: 1)to assess the current state of public library outreach to correctional institutions in California; 2) to outline the current state of information service in correctional facilities and demonstrate how public libraries and the communities they serve have a vested interest in serving local detainees; and 3) to highlight three model programs which show how partnerships between public libraries and correctional institutions can have far reaching benefits beyond the walls of the respective institutions. These three subjects taken together should serve as a call to action to broaden the notion of the public library's service area to include people who are incarcerated in their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prison library at the Münster Correctional Facility was named "Library of the Year 2007" by the German Library Association. An examination of this specific library in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) provides insight into the operation and services of prison libraries in Germany. This article will hopefully inspire readers to get involved in library work with a social focus and bring attention to the new advocacy organization Prison Library Support Group (Förderverein Gefangenenbüchereien e.V.). Besides opening the door to a world normally closed to the public, this article seeks to sensitize the reader to the microcosm of human experience that exists behind prison walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the rehabilitation programs of the Polish Prison Service, which incorporate various types of cultural, educational, and library activities. The main focus is on the author's analysis of rehabilitation programs in existence between 1981 and the present. The changes in the laws that govern these activities are described, as well as how the organization of the Polish prison system and the current sentence structure determine how rehabilitation programs are provided in the correctional institutions. The goals and objectives of prison libraries are explored, as they relate to the rehabilitation process and activities. The library collections and access to library materials are discussed, as well as library premises and library staffing. The author's research data form the basis for the analysis of prison library development over the last thirty years. The article also discusses various innovative rehabilitation programs that have been implemented under the theme of "education through culture and art." These include, among others, cultural and educational programs to help substance abusers overcome their addition and readjust to society, assertiveness training, and participation in cultural activities. These programs are also designed to enhance the offenders' literacy skills and to encourage their creativity and potential talent in music and fine arts. Finally, the article describes prison theater activities, literary clubs, and activities that promote reading (e.g., book exhibits, author talks, and the reading of books over the prison broadcasting system). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the defining characteristics of the organizational model for the provision of library services in Spanish prisons. The author provides data about the correctional facilities and the offender population and focuses on several issues that impact on the organization and operation of prison libraries. The article concludes with a reflection on the limitations of the current library service model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the present state of access to books and other reading materials for inmates in Japan's correctional facilities. While no professionally managed libraries are provided at these facilities- which explains why the term Prison Libraries in the title of this article is placed in quotation marks-incarcerated persons have the opportunity to obtain personal books, magazines, and newspapers through purchase or gifts. The prison administration also provides a certain number of reading materials at various locations within the institution. These materials, however, are inadequate and do not meet the needs of the offenders. The author discusses the legal framework that specifies the right of prisoners to read and obtain information, as well as the limits imposed on this access. The article contains information obtained by the author from a recent survey of seven correctional facilities. The author includes recommendations made by various advocacy groups, including the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, for improvement of the "prison library" situation and concludes with several of his own proposals to establish professionally operated prison libraries, to develop better collections, and to enhance cooperation between correctional facilities and public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have existed in French prisons since the mid-nineteenth century, and for more than a century the French Penitentiary Administration has made an effort to structure and organize them as well as to monitor what books are made available to inmates. The role and impact of these libraries has evolved slowly over time, and over the years central control was gradually relaxed. In the early 1980s, cooperative efforts between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Justice opened the door for new political direction that facilitated the opening of correctional facilities to the eyes of the outside world and encouraged representatives of cultural organizations to become involved with the prison population behind the wall. Prison libraries subsequently underwent a profound transformation when public library professionals began to venture inside the prisons in order to reorganize the existing book storage areas (which had been inaccessible to inmates) into proper libraries, like those they managed in the outside world. An examination of the situation in the Rhone-Alps region of France serves as a useful starting point for an examination of the development of prison libraries over the past twenty years, as well as a discussion of the difficulties encountered and the prospects for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last three decades have seen many developments in Canadian prison libraries. This article follows the history of the libraries in federal Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) from the 1980s to the present, concentrating on the libraries in the Pacific Region. A chronological overview of the major legislative changes, reports, and events of the last thirty years highlights the increased profile of prison libraries and their role in supporting Correctional Service of Canada's Mission and Goals. Some of these changes include the adoption in 1992 of the Corrections and Condition Release Act (CCRA) and Regulations, modifications to Commissioner's Directive 720 (2007a; under which libraries fall), and the adoption in the Pacific Region of Library Policy Guidelines. In addition to legislative and policy changes, Canadian society itself has also changed during this thirty-year period. As the face of Canada has become more diverse in age and ethnicity, as well as in social and technological expectations, so has the face of the prison population. These changes have, of course, also impacted on prison libraries. This article examines how prison libraries have met the challenges created by these societal and technological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with prison library services in Italy, highlighting national and regional developments over the last twenty-five to thirty years. The article is divided into six parts: (1) a brief history of Italian prison libraries; (2) the structure and organization of the first institutional libraries (in Turin, Rome, Padua, Ravenna, Milan, Treviso, and Sardinia); (3) considerations by the prison administration and support from the Italian Justice Ministry; (4) the role of the university (the Association of Prison Libraries [ABC] and the new Italian Library Association [AIB] special interest group on people with special needs); (5) newer prison libraries and future projects; and (6) some user data and final conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the uCreate Project of the New York City-based youth development organization Global Kids Inc., which extends collaborative learning to incarcerated youth in the U.S. particularly Madison, Wisconsin and Charlotte, North Carolina. It says that the six-week long educational project links youth detention centers with community libraries such as Dane County Jail with the Madison Public Library in Madison and Jail North with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in Charlotte. It states that the project offers Global Kids the opportunity to continue its work for nontraditional youth populations. Meanwhile, it mentions that incarcerated youth are the most disenfranchised young people population in the country.

There has been a long, though often little explored, relationship between prisons and libraries. In the 19th century, in-prison libraries were introduced for evangelical purpose. Now they are seen as a key element in raising literacy levels and supporting prisoner education programmes which are ultimately aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration. Many public libraries have strong links with prison libraries and provide support. However, in Whanganui, New Zealand, the district library has entered an unusual partnership with the local prison where prisoners from the self-care unit regularly visit the library. This case study explores perceptions of both prisoners and district librarians about the project. It reports on prisoners' perceptions of and use of the library. Librarians give their views on how the system works and what could make it even better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin des bibliothèques de France is the property of ENSSIB and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin des bibliothèques de France is the property of ENSSIB and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As prison populations have grown, so too has the demand for prison library services and materials related to education, recreational reading, and inmate efforts to seek post conviction relief through the courts. Correctional librarians have been hard pressed to respond to this demand. Many look to information management technology to bridge the gap between inmate demand and shrinking resources. Based on a nationwide survey of state prisons, this paper examines trends in the use of information management technology by prison librarians in the United States and the influence of prison contextual characteristics on deployment of such technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the author's views on the Alternatives Library programs for prisoners in the U.S. Issuance of hundreds of books to prisoners under the Prisoner Express program; Need to help prisoners to have better access to printed materials, outlets for their creativity and activities that can help pass the time in a meaningful way; Publication of a newsletter "Prisoner Express," by the Alternatives Library, 3-4 times a year; Plans to start pen-pal programs and to offer special writing and art programs to prisoners.

The article explores a partnership between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina which provides library programming and services to youthful offenders, or incarcerated teenagers. The benefits library courses provide to youth offenders, the involvement of the library's outreach department, and the importance of providing library services to underserved populations including incarcerated teenagers are examined. The development of technology and literacy based programming, connections between library programs and existing jail programs, and recognizing the efforts of participants are also discussed.

Copyright of Bulletin des bibliothèques de France is the property of ENSSIB and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the study to establish if libraries in Queensland prisons meet Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) guidelines for library services in prisons in 2015. Topics discussed include potential of libraries to reduce recidivism by improving the literacy and educational standards of prisoners; lack of access to the prison libraries to audit the actual collections and importance of establishing the standards of libraries in prisons.

The article focuses on the importance of libraries in prison and the rate of registered users in the prison branches of the Institutional Library Services (ILS). It mentions Washington State Library (WSL), recognize the importance of serving incarcerated and hospitalized people and providing library services to the men and women incarcerated in facilities of the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC). It also mentions creation of Washington Libraries for Successful Reentry.