PRISON LIBRARIES IN KINGSTON A CONFLICT OF INSTITUTIONS

7 Correctional Libraries in the Kingston area 7 Correctional Libraries in the Kingston area + 4 other Correctional Libraries in Ontario 4 other Correctional Libraries in Ontario + Provincial System Provincial System

The Librarians…. Teacher-Librarians - 4 CBI/BI/KP/RTC/WI Teacher-Librarians - 4 CBI/BI/KP/RTC/WI Library Technicians -1 JI/PI Library Technicians -1 JI/PI Contract Librarians- 1 GVI Contract Librarians- 1 GVI Contract with City Library- FMI/BC Contract with City Library- FMI/BC No Librarian- FI No Librarian- FI National- MLS or MLIS -3 National- MLS or MLIS -3

CSC’S POLICY Libraries are information centres that support all institutional programs and address offenders' needs for recreational, cultural, spiritual, educational and informative materials.

MORE POLICY… The Institutional Head will ensure that the library provides services and computerized resources which are comparable to those in the community libraries, while taking into consideration both the needs of the correctional environment and the limitations of the physical space available. The Institutional Head will ensure that the library provides services and computerized resources which are comparable to those in the community libraries, while taking into consideration both the needs of the correctional environment and the limitations of the physical space available.

AND…. The Institutional Head should also ensure that the library has sufficient books and material to meet the basic needs of minority official language inmates. Inter-library loans with community libraries should be encouraged where possible. The Institutional Head should also ensure that the library has sufficient books and material to meet the basic needs of minority official language inmates. Inter-library loans with community libraries should be encouraged where possible.

OF COURSE…. In addition, libraries will provide the opportunity to educate offenders in the full use of library resources. In addition, libraries will provide the opportunity to educate offenders in the full use of library resources.

LEGAL POLICY The institutional librarian will ensure that the institution's library has available historical and current copies of legal, regulatory and official reference materials The institutional librarian will ensure that the institution's library has available historical and current copies of legal, regulatory and official reference materials (13 VARIOUS ACTS IN BOTH OFFICIAL LANGUAGES) (13 VARIOUS ACTS IN BOTH OFFICIAL LANGUAGES)

WHAT WE REALLY DO.. Offenders use the Library up to 10 times as much as a person in the community Offenders use the Library up to 10 times as much as a person in the community One stop shopping One stop shopping Inmate supervision and Inmate supervision and Prison committees –sensitive material Prison committees –sensitive material Everything connected with the Library Everything connected with the Library

THE ISSUES… Conflict between institutions- Conflict between institutions- Libraries are about order, organization, peace and quiet, free access to information Libraries are about order, organization, peace and quiet, free access to information Penitentiaries are about chaos, tight security and control, noise and violence Penitentiaries are about chaos, tight security and control, noise and violence Working in isolation Working in isolation Low profile-part of the whole Low profile-part of the whole

YOUR READERS… High level of illiteracy – 90% < grade 12 High level of illiteracy – 90% < grade 12 High rate of mental illness and emotional instability High rate of mental illness and emotional instability 99% male 99% male Many, many, many different cultures Many, many, many different cultures Different social, racial and cultural backgrounds Different social, racial and cultural backgrounds

A GREAT PRISON LIBRARIAN MUST HAVE: Strong sense of values and goals: Never be drawn into the subculture Strong sense of values and goals: Never be drawn into the subculture Flexibility: (lockdowns, emotional outbursts, sudden transfers, unexpected budget cuts) Flexibility: (lockdowns, emotional outbursts, sudden transfers, unexpected budget cuts) Patience: inmates are needy, demanding, impatient, volatile, dirty Patience: inmates are needy, demanding, impatient, volatile, dirty

AND…. Emotional Stability: Leave work behind at the end of the day- be objective Emotional Stability: Leave work behind at the end of the day- be objective High tolerance for stress High tolerance for stress Sense of humor: Relieves stress defuses tense situations Sense of humor: Relieves stress defuses tense situations

MORE QUALITIES: A genuine desire to help A genuine desire to help Credibility: If the Librarian doesn’t have it, no inmate will respect her or the library. Credibility: If the Librarian doesn’t have it, no inmate will respect her or the library. Fairness and tolerance: keep personal bias aside when selecting material and responding to requests Fairness and tolerance: keep personal bias aside when selecting material and responding to requests Ability to follow policy and procedures: Same treatment regardless of crime Ability to follow policy and procedures: Same treatment regardless of crime

THE MOST IMPORTANT.. Communication skills: Includes listening, non-verbal cues (You may be interacting with a sociopath/behavior disorder Communication skills: Includes listening, non-verbal cues (You may be interacting with a sociopath/behavior disorder Problem solving skills: includes common sense and rational thinking Problem solving skills: includes common sense and rational thinking Teaching skills: Inmate library workers Teaching skills: Inmate library workers Expertise in marketing and public relations Expertise in marketing and public relations Awareness of security issues Awareness of security issues

THE REWARDS… Huge impact on people using the library for the first time Huge impact on people using the library for the first time Something positive in a negative atmosphere Something positive in a negative atmosphere Independence Independence Credibility in the workplace Credibility in the workplace Impact on dysfunctional people- “swearing” respect for books and reading Impact on dysfunctional people- “swearing” respect for books and reading

ICING ON THE CAKE! SELF CONFIDENCE SELF CONFIDENCE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT RECOGNITION RECOGNITION