Prison Libraries: Home
Policies Relating to Prison Libraries
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Service to Detention Facilities and JailsPolicy B.8.2 states, "The American Library Association encourages public libraries and systems to extend their services to residents of jails and other detention facilities within their taxing areas."
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Prisoner's Right to ReadAn Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights states "The American Library Association asserts a compelling public interest in the preservation of intellectual freedom for individuals of any age held in jails, prisons, detention facilities, juvenile facilities, immigration facilities, prison work camps and segregated units within any facility."
Programming Opportunities
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Great Stories ClubOffered through the ALA Public Programs Office, the Great Stories Club is a library-led book club model that gives underserved youth facing significant challenges the opportunity to read, reflect, and share ideas on topics that resonate with them. There will be grant opportunities for prison librarians over the next 30 months, and though the program is for YA readers, proposals from prison librarians who work with younger reading groups (usually about 18-24 yrs old) will be considered.
How to get involved
The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) is the ALA membership division that represents state library agencies, specialized library agencies, multitype library cooperatives, and independent librarians. Specialized library agencies are those organizations that provide materials and services to meet the information needs of persons whose access to library services and materials is limited because of confinement, sensory, mental, physical, health, or behavioral conditions. As a type-of-library division, ASCLA is empowered by the ALA Council to establish standards of service for libraries in correctional institutions. Formerly part of the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS), two interest groups are currently active:
- ASCLA Library Services for the Incarcerated and Detained Interest Group
- ASCLA Library Services for Youth in Custody Interest Group
In addition, ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS) supports, serves, and promotes adult literacy and equity of information access initiatives for traditionally underserved populations through training, information resources, and technical assistance.
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Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)ASCLA has a mission "to strengthen the usefulness, efficiency and services of state library agencies, specialized library agencies, and library cooperatives and to provide a focus for addressing the needs and interests of individual members as they relate to the Association's area of responsibility."
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ASCLA Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained Interest GroupOnline discussion group for those interested in this service.
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ASCLA Library Services for Youth in CustodyOnline discussion forum for those interested in serving detained youth.
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Outreach Resources from ODLOSToolkits and other resources from the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services.
Additonal ALA Resources
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ALSC Service Network for Children of Inmates Book ListDeveloped in 2009 by the Quicklists Consulting Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Now archived.
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Prison LibrariesArticles on Prison Libraries, from the archives of Interface, the ASCLA newsletter. From 2003-2008.
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The Prison Library as an Agent of Rehabilitative ChangeAn online course offered by ALA's Association of Specialized, Government & Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA) in 2017.
Standards from ALA
The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA, a division of ALA) has prepared the following standards of service libraries in correctional institutions.
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Library Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions, 1992 by ISBN: 9780838975831Publication Date: 1992-01-01 -
Library Standards for Juvenile Correctional Institutions by ISBN: 9780838979884Publication Date: 1999
Other Standards
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Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners byISBN: 978 - 90-77897-07-0Publication Date: 20053rd Edition. IFLA Professional Reports, No. 92.
Also translated into eight additional languages
