Illinois - Correctional & Institutional

Information Literacy Standards

2009-11-04T00:34:29Z

Hi, I'm brand new to WebJunction. I'm currently enrolled in the MLIS program at the University of Rhode Island. I'm completing my internship at RI prison working with the librarians there. For another class I'm taking, I need to create a 5-lesson unit plan on information literacy. Unfortunately, the prison library system does not have a set of standards to which they subscribe. I'm looking for any sort of information literacy standards specifically for a prison setting, if any exist.

Thanks!
Loretta

prison/jail libraries

2009-08-20T17:17:33Z

The Prison Library Primer:A Program for the Twenty-First Century has just been released by Scarecrow Press and is available at
Amazon and Barnes&Noble. It is about how to manage a correctional library, soup to nuts, with many references to bibliographic and web resources and to advocacy groups. It includes a history of prison libraries in the U.S. and a chapter on the importance of the
jailhouse lawyer in providing access to the courts. It is also a plea for access to the Internet and to information skill training for the incarcerated and the ex-offender.
I will be making an effort to organize an effective advocacy group to educate the public about the link between information literacy and citizenship. I am shopping for a corporate underwriter to support this efforts. All suggestions welcome.
Best wishes to my colleagues,
Brenda Vogel

Survey ends March 31!! Library & literacy services in / to California ju

2009-03-24T04:32:01Z

Dear Library & Corrections Professionals:

It’s me again, with a FINAL REMINDER about the survey I’m conducting for my master’s thesis at UCLA in the Department of Information Studies. Many heartfelt thanks to those who have taken the survey! However, I could still use more responses (100% would be nice!) & some responses were incomplete. 8-(

I wish to determine the state of library and literacy services and programs in juvenile correctional facilities in California, especially given the current economic crisis! So, if you work in, or provide services to a state, county or private juvenile correctional facility in California (including camps/ranches – this may not have been clear in my earlier postings!), I would be most grateful if you would complete this short survey (about 10-15 minutes):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5uYqC7by_2bQTMWjsxU630uw_3d_3d

Even if there is no library or literacy services at your site, please complete as much of the survey as you can – there are Comments fields where you can provide information as to why there are no library or literacy services, or if there were in the past, or if you’d like such services, etc.

This survey will close March 31, so please get your responses in soon – & please nudge anyone else you know who works with incarcerated youth!

Confidentiality will be strictly maintained -- no personal identifying information will be used in this study. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, you may contact me, Susan Minobe, at sminobe@ucla.edu or my faculty advisor, Virginia Walter, at walter@gseis.ucla.edu.

Many, many apologies yet again for cross-posting & duplication, but thank you very much for your time and participation!

Susan L. Minobe, MLIS 2009/10
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
University of California at Los Angeles

RE: Library & literacy services in / to California juvenile corrections

2009-03-16T19:14:37Z

Dear Library & Corrections Professionals:

Earlier this month, I posted this email about a survey I’m conducting for my master’s thesis at UCLA in the Department of Information Studies. Many heartfelt thanks to those who have taken the survey! However, I could still use some more responses, especially your comments on how the current economic crisis is affecting facilities' services.

If you work in, or provide services to a state, county or private juvenile correctional facility in California, I would be most grateful if you would complete this short survey (about 10-15 minutes):

[www.surveymonkey.com]

Additionally, I would appreciate it if you would please forward this link to other individuals, listservs &/or forums where people may have relevant knowledge for my survey.

Confidentiality will be strictly maintained -- no personal identifying information will be used in this study. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, you may contact me, Susan Minobe, at sminobe@ucla.edu or my faculty advisor, Virginia Walter, at walter@gseis.ucla.edu.

Many, many apologies for cross-posting & duplication, but thank you very much for your time and participation!

Susan L. Minobe, MLIS 2009/10
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
University of California at Los Angeles

Library & literacy services in / to California juvenile corrections facilit

2009-03-04T03:16:11Z

Dear Library & Corrections Professionals:
I am conducting a research project in the course of completing my master’s thesis at UCLA in the Department of Information Studies. I wish to determine the state of library and literacy services and programs in juvenile correctional facilities in California. No nationwide survey has been done in nearly 30 years, since the “Survey of library service in local correctional facilities” in 1980, & state & local studies are equally sparse.

If you work in, or provide services to a state, county or private juvenile correctional facility in California, I would be most grateful if you would complete this short survey (about 10-15 minutes):

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5uYqC7by_2bQTMWjsxU630uw_3d_3d

Additionally, if you know a particular individual, or know of a relevant listserv or discussion forum where people have relevant knowledge for my survey, I would appreciate it if you would please forward this link.

Confidentiality will be strictly maintained -- no personal identifying information will be used in this study. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, you may contact me, Susan Minobe, at sminobe@ucla.edu or my faculty advisor, Virginia Walter, at walter@gseis.ucla.edu.

Many, many apologies for cross-posting & duplication, but thank you very much for your time and participation!

Susan L. Minobe, MLIS 2009/10
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
University of California at Los Angeles

RE: Introduce yourself!

2009-03-04T03:01:56Z

Hi, I'm also a library school student (at UCLA) & doing a thesis on library services to incarcerated youth in California. I've also been a library assistant here at UCLA for many years -- it took awhile before it sank in that I should go to library school & get the degree! I'm part of a student group here that takes books and does book talking at one of the LA County juvenile facilities (Nidorf).

-SLM-

RE: Information Seeking Behabior of the Incarcerated?

2009-03-04T02:51:38Z

I just joined & saw this thread... Did you find anything, Genna? I've been working toward my MLIS at UCLA & have been researching similar issues with incarcerated teens. There's darned little in the way of empirical research studies, especially for juveniles.
-SLM-

"Out for Life" DVD - referenced in 01-07-09 webinar

2009-01-09T21:14:41Z

The Institutional Library Development team at the Colorado State Library produced a DVD (in English, Spanish, and closed captioned) for offenders. It promotes the use of our prison libraries' re-entry resources, as well as community libraries' resources that can continue to assist offenders with re-entry success post-release.

The DVD may be viewed in streaming video format at Out for Life. Unfortunately, the online version does not have closed captioning yet.

I have some copies of the English/closed captioned "Out for Life" DVD. Let me know if you'd like one. I am waiting to receive additional copies of the English/Spanish version. Reese_D@cde.state.co.us

RE: Information Seeking Behabior of the Incarcerated?

2008-11-20T14:33:26Z

Genna,
You should post the citation for that article you found and sent to me via email. I bet others on this discussion board would like to see it.

Information Seeking Behabior of the Incarcerated?

2008-11-11T14:56:06Z

Hello there!

I am attending Drexel to obtain my MSLS, and I am hoping to become a prison librarian. Currently, I am writing an annotated bibliography for empirical research on the information needs of the incarcerated population,and their information seeking behavior. I am looking for reseach on how the incarcerated uses the library, and seeks information, but not services prison libraries or BTP (and others who assist) provide. Instead of professional articles I need to select research based articles, scholarly sources etc. So if you have any recommendations or research on information needs, please let me know!!!!!!

I really appreciate any help.

Thank you,
Genna Saloff

Upcoming webinar on Prisoners and Access to the Internet

2008-10-21T01:03:12Z

I wanted to let everyone know about an upcoming free webinar at WebJunction about prisoners and access to the Internet.

Internet in Prison: Pros and Cons
When: January 7, 2009 at 1-2 PM CST (find your local time zone here)

Internet access is a hot button in prison because of the potential for predatory, white collar criminal, and other dangerous activities. And yet, prison programming is designed to help incarcerated people prepare for success post-release. The Internet has the potential to support both harmful and positive goals. Is there a way to balance the priority of safety with reintegration goals? Join Melisa Gilbert of Coyote Ridge Correctional Center (WA) as she presents and facilitates a conversation on the multiple points of view on this controversial issue.

Register here: http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1536

This webinar is based on a presentation she gave in Colorado at the International CEA conference. There will be time for what we hope is a lively conversation about this topic.

WebJunction also has an area where you can read and publish articles, resources, and discussions about services to incarcerated people: http://www.webjunction.org/correctional-and-institutional. Publishing is open to everyone, and you retain republication rights (more information about contributing can be found here: . I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Inmates finding value in their library

2008-08-27T23:25:13Z

A colleague passed on this brief article in the Everett (WA) Herald about prison inmates finding value in their library.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080806/NEWS01/859443890&news01ad=1#Books.keep.inmates.busy

It would be great to hear of other publicity out there demonstrating the value of prison libraries. Thanks!
JP

RE: Re: Introduce yourself!

2008-08-25T02:56:54Z

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.

RE: Introduce yourself!

2008-08-19T15:35:04Z

Welcome back everyone to the new WebJunction. I hope you will continue to visit this space and make it your own. If you have resources you would like to share, feel free to submit documents to this area of the site.

Having trouble getting started? Check out the Member Center and the Contributor's Guide for guidance.

Emily

RE: Re: Research on Prison Libraries and Intellectual Freedom

2008-08-08T16:50:36Z

This brief article Books keep inmates busy from the Everett Herald (Washington state) offers a glimpse at the inmate's perspective on the value of prison libraries.

It includes comments from the prison librarian regarding her experiences.

Re: Introduce yourself!

2008-07-23T05:33:34Z

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.

Re: Introduce yourself!

2008-07-10T15:59:35Z

Welcome Desiree! Your research seems very interesting. I hope you will share back with the community your findings from your research. And as someone who also wrote a thesis during her library school years, good luck and stay sane!

I also want to take this opportunity to tell everyone in this forum about the changes that are coming to WebJunction's site. In about a month, we will be launching on a new, more robust platform that will give you, the members, more power to contribute resources, find others who share your interests, participate in discussions, and take advantage of online learning. There will be a Corrections topic page which I hope all of you will stop by and contribute.

I'll post more information about coming changes soon. For now, if you want to get a sneak peek as to what's coming, check out the [url http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/category/next-wj/]next WJ category on BlogJunction[/url].

Emily

Re: Introduce yourself!

2008-07-10T00:30:45Z

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!

Re: Article about serving ex-offenders in Public Libraries

2008-06-12T19:06:02Z

Thanks for sharing the resource ... and welcome to WebJunction!

Re: Article about serving ex-offenders in Public Libraries

2008-06-11T23:35:19Z

Some more resources for prison librarians:

Down for the Count, book by Brenda Vogel.

"The prison library: An issue for corrections or a correct solution for its issues?" by Robert M. Stearns in Behavioral and Social Science Librarian, Vol. 23, no. 1, 2004, 49-80.