Australian prison libraries: minimum standard guidelines

7. Library resources

7.1 As in a good public library, the prison library shall aim to anticipate, meet and encourage the whole spectrum of information needs within its inmate population. The range, type and levels of stock shall be comparable with those of a public library.

7.2 Factors such as prison size, average length of confinement, and conditions of access affect the quantity of stock required. However the following are recommended as minimum standards:

Each library shall also have subscriptions to at least two daily newspapers.

7.3 Because stocks are inevitably small and usage rates high, additional provision shall be made by way of stock exchanges, made available by a central service (such as a state library or medium-sized to large public library). A minimum of 20-30 per cent of stock shall be exchanged each year. In some cases, complete exchanges of stock might be necessary.

7.4 The physical condition of stock shall be of a quality acceptable in a good public library.

7.5 A program of discarding shall be maintained, whereby stock that is irrelevant, out of date or physically inferior is eliminated. This program will be the responsibility of the professional librarian.

7.6 Selection of stock, like withdrawals, shall be carried out by a professional librarian, guided by a written policy.

7.7 In general, no restrictions shall apply to the selection of stock other than those accepted in public libraries, or restrictions dictated by the demands of maintaining good order and security. In accordance with the ALIA Statement on Freedom to Read, censorship of other kinds should not be exercised.

7.8 The prison library collection shall contain not only the types of materials standard in public libraries, e.g. reference books, fiction, periodicals, newspapers and audio-visuals: it should also contain materials to cater for special needs. These include:

• Textbooks and back-up material for inmates undertaking approved courses of study (provided that such material is not already supplied satisfactorily through the education system).
• Basic education materials such as easy readers and life skills texts.
• Legal reference materials appropriate for inmates.
• Materials for Aborigines, e.g. indigenous literature and audio-visual materials.
• Material for other ethnic minorities, e.g. community language materials including newspapers, and suitable English language texts.
• Material for inmates with reading difficulties, e.g. audiocassettes or large print books.
• Material on human relationships including homosexuality and emotional and sexual problems.

It might be noted that in 1975 a survey of the information needs of prisoners in Maryland identified four types of needs. These were, in order of priority:

1. In-house information on institutional procedures, regulations, current happenings etc.
2. Information concerning families, and community resource information for family assistance.
3. Legal information concerning criminal charges, appeals, etc.
4. Job market information and other re-entry information.

(Marjorie LeDonne, 'Survey of library and informational problems in correctional facilities: a retrospective review', Library Trends 26, 1, 1977, p58).

Selection for the prison library should take these needs into account.