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My colleague D., at the county correctional facility (which holds people pre trial and those with a sentence of 18 months or less) invited me to visit the library, talk with her and the new librarian in charge (whom I'd been on a committee with), and get more insight into what books they need and don't need.
Security wasn't super-heavy, but still pretty good--I walked in with only my keys and work badge (yeah, and clothes), went through a metal detector, handed over my car keys in exchange for a visitor badge, and went into tiny room with security doors on both sides to be observed through one-way glass (that was the most intense part). Then we headed to the library. Residents were in their housing facilities and not around at the time, which is why I could visit.
I got a good tour of the library, which was drab but about as clean as any public library. They have a sizable Spanish collection (I buy all adult Spanish titles for the entire county), even more than I expected, and it gets good use. Surprise of the day--Latino male inmates looove those Spanish-language Harlequin Romances. They're very romantic, D. says. The biggest fiction titles are superhero comics and urban fiction.
I had lunch in the staff cafeteria (there's no fast food or restaurants nearby, just a nature preserve and soon, a solar-power array). The veggie-dog was pretty good (and with a whole-wheat bun, no less) but the turnip greens, baked beans and salad dressing were just so-so. Salad greens were fresh and good. Better than a lot of meals I had at my college dining hall.
So, with the piece of paper I'd used for notes tucked into my pocket, I headed out with a lot of information!
I've always felt people in jail/prison should have access to classes and books to help them better deal with what they're going through and to do better once they get "back outside." It's been proven that job training and other education (GEDs, literacy) reduce recidivism (try telling some people that, though) so it's "practical" too. I was really galvanized by an amazing woman, Glennor Shirley, who was a state prison librarian and a huge advocate--I heard her in a workshop and wow!. Then I had friends who volunteered in libraries and talked a lot about the residents and their experiences. So now I'm really big on "getting them what they need" as well as what they want.
Security wasn't super-heavy, but still pretty good--I walked in with only my keys and work badge (yeah, and clothes), went through a metal detector, handed over my car keys in exchange for a visitor badge, and went into tiny room with security doors on both sides to be observed through one-way glass (that was the most intense part). Then we headed to the library. Residents were in their housing facilities and not around at the time, which is why I could visit.
I got a good tour of the library, which was drab but about as clean as any public library. They have a sizable Spanish collection (I buy all adult Spanish titles for the entire county), even more than I expected, and it gets good use. Surprise of the day--Latino male inmates looove those Spanish-language Harlequin Romances. They're very romantic, D. says. The biggest fiction titles are superhero comics and urban fiction.
I had lunch in the staff cafeteria (there's no fast food or restaurants nearby, just a nature preserve and soon, a solar-power array). The veggie-dog was pretty good (and with a whole-wheat bun, no less) but the turnip greens, baked beans and salad dressing were just so-so. Salad greens were fresh and good. Better than a lot of meals I had at my college dining hall.
So, with the piece of paper I'd used for notes tucked into my pocket, I headed out with a lot of information!
I've always felt people in jail/prison should have access to classes and books to help them better deal with what they're going through and to do better once they get "back outside." It's been proven that job training and other education (GEDs, literacy) reduce recidivism (try telling some people that, though) so it's "practical" too. I was really galvanized by an amazing woman, Glennor Shirley, who was a state prison librarian and a huge advocate--I heard her in a workshop and wow!. Then I had friends who volunteered in libraries and talked a lot about the residents and their experiences. So now I'm really big on "getting them what they need" as well as what they want.
