WebJunction

Hello, fellow prison librarians! My name is Sue and moved from the public library setting to a prison library just a few months ago. I was the director of a small, rural library in southeastern Colorado for two years, where I became acquainted with WebJunction and its rural library community. I've also worked in school libraries.

I have a journalism degree from the University of Missouri (go Tigers!) and am originally from northern Illinois. I'm currently working on my MLS through the Colorado cohort of Emporia State University.

My husband is a wildlife officer; our daughter will be 22 in March and has a bachelor's degree in microbiology (and a Harley!). I am an animal lover, especially cats and Pembroke Welsh corgis (I have one; our other dog is a Bloodhound--talk about a strange mix!). I love to read, although I never seem to have much time to do recreational reading anymore. I also enjoy photography and have dabbled in community theater.

I'm interested in talking with other prison librarians, especially those of you with some experience, on how you find the "library" amidst all the custody issues. It seems like I'm always saying "no"! And it's the custody stuff...and paperwork...that seem to be my main duties instead of actual library work! I'd love to start a reading group and other "booky" activities but I'm bogged down in all of this other "stuff". Help!

Hi John Paul-

I went to Pitt library school too! I graduated in 2005 and I am now a prison librarian outside of Toronto. At the time I was getting my MLS, no one else was interested in Prison Libraries, but I did a little volunteering at Book 'Em in Garfield. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, although prisons in Canada are much more rehab-oriented, less punitive. My institution is unusual in that it is open dorm style and the "residents" move freely through the institute unescorted, even though it is medium-security. Anyhow, glad to have found this listserv!

Hello All:

My name is Jason Villani and I am a reference librarian at the New Britain Public library in Connecticut. I am interesting in starting an initiative on getting donated books to CT prisons and am wondering how to get started. We get a surplus of books donated to the library with many that would be very useful for prison libraries.

I am wondering how to get the logistics of a plan together to do this. Do I call the prisons individually? Does the prison librarian usually work with receiving donated books? Is there any politics in trying to get something like this done? From what I have heard, in the past our library has tried to donate books to prisons but it became a problem because no one would pick up the books.

I also wanted to mention this group called "Books through Bars" based out of Philadelphia which has been instrumental in my interest in starting such a project.
http://www.booksthroughbars.org/

I would very much like to get something like that started here in CT.

Any thoughts or opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Jason

Hello all. My name is Desiree, and I just finished my second year in the University of Washington's online MLIS program. Like John Paul, I became interested in prison library services very early in my graduate studies. Several of my class projects have focused on prison library issues, and I conducted an internship at the local jail last winter. Now I'm getting ready to write a thesis on prison librarians' perceptions and attitudes about their professional roles. I'm glad to have found this community; I'm sure it will come in handy while I conduct my research!

Desiree, I'm curious to know how you chose your thesis topic, and I invite you to contact me if you need someone to interview. I have an MLS and am into my 4th year as a correctional library person. Before that, I was in academic libraries, so I have a unique perspective on things.

Melisa, thanks for your offer to interview. I've just recently changed my mind about doing a thesis, though. Just last week I interviewed for, was offered, and accepted a librarian position at Montana State Prison! I figure I'll be able to learn much more about prison librarianship by actually doing it than I ever could by writing about it.