Good Prison Libraries Provide a Way Out

Michael McGrorty points out he has a Letter To The Editor in the LA Times.
In “Good Prison Libraries Provide a Way Out” he says more needs to be done for prison libraries. It would be impossible to have a truly effective literacy and education system without upgrading and increased oversight of the prison libraries, most of which are underfunded and thinly staffed.

March 28, 2004 by Uncategorized 4

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4 Responses

  1. AshtabulaGuy says:
    March 28, 2004 at 8:34 pm

    Recidivism
    If an adjudicated criminal has no way out of crime, they are going to stick to what they know because that may be all that they know that might work for them.

    This proposed bill is definitely something that should be lobbied in favor of.

    Reply
  2. Bibliofuture says:
    March 29, 2004 at 12:27 am

    Reading level
    The reading level for many inmates might be very low. I would not be suprised if some had never read an entire book in their life. This is not to advocate against libraries in prison but the need for education first. How about working to have the local public library serve the needs of the prisoners? They could take book request and every week or two take another shipment of books to the prison.

    Reply
  3. Amke says:
    March 29, 2004 at 8:42 pm

    Re:Reading level
    I do ILL’s at my library and we often take and fill requests through OCLC. But I cannot see how this could hardly take the place of having a library (WITH a LIBRARIAN) right on-sight! I agree there needs to be education, but education AND a library.

    Reply
  4. Bibliofuture says:
    March 30, 2004 at 11:42 am

    Re:Reading level
    I agree but the problem is money. Communities already feel like they are paying to much for prisons and libraries do not seem essentil to many. If the public libraries do not step in there may not be anyone else to do the job.

    Reply

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