The Power of Books: Understanding the Potential Transition from Physical to Digital Libraries

Jessica N Szempruch, Jessica M. Grosholz, Roberta Liggett O'Malley, Danielle Thomas

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

The first prison library was established in 1844 at Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. In the decades following the 1930 publication of a prison libraries manual by the American Correctional Association, the number of prison libraries, particularly in federal prisons, increased dramatically. As this manual (p. 4) stated, for incarcerated individuals, “books are…a bridge to the free world.” While many of these physical libraries still exist, the recent introduction of tablets into state and federal prisons has changed the landscape of prison libraries and books more specifically. This project, then, seeks to understand how this transition from physical libraries to digital libraries affects incarcerated individuals. Additionally, we aim to better understand potential access issues (i.e., time limits, cost, privacy, etc.) related to virtual libraries. Using interviews with prison librarians and currently incarcerated individuals, this project hopes to serve as a reinforcement of the importance of prison libraries as a cost-effective tool for rehabilitation; thus, potentially improving both the prison environment and post-release success of currently incarcerated individuals.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Nov 18 2022
EventAmerican Society of Criminology 77th Annual Meeting -
Duration: Nov 18 2022 → …

Conference

ConferenceAmerican Society of Criminology 77th Annual Meeting
Period11/18/22 → …

Disciplines

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Library and Information Science
  • Criminology
  • Social Justice

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