INFO 266
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Conrad, S. (2012). Collection development and circulation
policies in prison libraries: An exploratory survey of librarians in US
correctional institutions. Library
Quarterly, 82(4), 407-427. Retrieved from http://discover.sjlibrary.org:50080/ebsco-w-a/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cbf256fc-954b-4ad1-92e5-df97dea56aba%40sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4214
This article discusses libraries in prison systems and
their collection development policies. The author conducted a survey of various
prison libraries by asking the librarians questions about the collection
policy, what types of books are allowed and the confidentiality of the
prisoners who borrow the books. What I found interesting about this article was
the types of books not allowed in the prison. It makes sense that books with
content including violence, theft, murder and other aggressive forms would be
banned because it could be seen by the prisoners in a glorifying light. The
author mentioned a case in which a parolee was tried with murder and said the
books he read were to blame. A list of these books were given to the jury. I
believe that certain books should be banned from prison libraries and that
these institutions should carry books that promote education and healthy
learning, especially for those prisoners that are getting a degree while
incarcerated which is something that happens quite often.
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