This article is a good resource for librarians interested in providing health information to women based on current gender-specific research in biology and medicine. It also discusses the role of librarians in raising awareness about health issues that may not currently be addressed by health care providers.
Amnesty International. The issue: medical neglect of women in US prisons. Accessed July 21, 2008.
Beck, Allen J. and Maruschak, Laura M. (2001). "Mental Health Treatment in State Prisons, 2000". Bureau of Justice Statistics.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/mhtsp00.pdf
In women-only State prisons during 2000, 26.5% of inmates received psychological therapy or counseling. This indicates a significant need for supplemental mental health materials for prisoners to study in conjunction with professional treatment.
Bureau of Justice. Medical problems of prisoners. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/mpp/mpp.htm>
Burnham, Erica and Peterson, Eileen B. (2005). Health information literacy: a library case study. Library Trends, 53, 3.
This article gives some definitions for "health literacy" and discusses the library's role in helping people understand diseases and their treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). "Correctional Health".
http://www.cdc.gov/correctionalhealth/
This site provides information about major health issues that affect inmate populations. Problems faced by inmates include HIV/AIDS, drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis, STIs, traumatic brain injury (which often leads to other problems such as emotional disturbances or cognitive impairments), mental health challenges, and substance abuse.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(2003). Prevention and control of infections with hepatitis viruses in correctional settings. MMWR, 52, No. RR-1.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Criminal Justice Professionals. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/FactSheets/Prisoner_Crim_Justice_Prof.pdf>
Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers. Women and prison fact sheet. Accessed July 8, 2008.
<http://www.claim-il.org/
The Correctional Association of New York. (2007). "Women in Prison Fact Sheet". http://www.correctionalassociation.org/WIPP/publications/Women%20in%20Prison%20Fact%20Sheet%202007.pdf
This fact sheet includes statistics about female prisoners in the United States, as well as focusing specifically on women in New York State prisons. Female prisoners in the U.S. tend to be incarcerated for non-violent crimes, and to have a history of physical or sexual abuse. Mental health problems are also common in this population. Many female prisoners are also women of color, and many women have raised children prior to incarceration.
Dixen, Rebecca, Thorson, Stephanie. (2001). How librarians serve people in prison. Computers in Libraries, 21, 9, p. 48-53.
This article follows a prison librarian through a typical day on the job. It mainly addresses legal information, but also technology limitation issues and their effect on preparing inmates for re-entry into the "free" world.
Harlow, Caroline Wolf. "Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report: Education and Correctional Populations." U.S. Department of Justice. 2003.
Hazen, D.C. “Collection development, collection management, and preservation.” Library resources & technical services. 26 (1) (Jan/Mar 1982) 6-10.
An article that details factors for selecting and preserving materials.
King, Alan. "The care and feeding of your CD-ROM disk." Database 14 (6) (Dec 1991): 105-108.
A look at CD-ROM technology that includes a handy list of tips for preserving the discs.
Legal Service for Prisoners with Children. (2002). "Access to Medical Care in California Women's Prisons: An Overview".
http://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/pubs/barriers.pdf
Female prisoners face additional barriers to adequate healthcare beyond those experienced by male prisoners. One of these challenges is the frequent lack of "preventative healthcare education which would allow the women to learn how to manage their own medical problems".
Legal Service for Prisoners with Children. (2002). "Women Prisoners: Facts and Figures at a Glance".
http://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/pubs/womgen.pdf
The majority of women prisoners are mothers". Female inmates have gender-specific health concerns which are often not taken into consideration by correctional policies.
Lehmann, Vibeke. "Prison Librarians Needed: A Challenging Career for Those with the Right Professional and Human Skills." IFLA Journal. 26:2 (2000) 123-128.
Can be accessed online here.
Lehmann's background on prison libraries and librarians provides insight into the needs of this underserved demographic. Her discussion of the modern prison library provides a broad overview of the types of materials one might find in a prison library as well as the role of the librarian in these institutions.
Payne, William, Sabath, Michael J. (2007). Trends in the Use of Information Management Technology in Prison Libraries. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 26, 2.
This article discusses a research survey of prisons on how prison libraries are using technology.
Prison Policy Initiative. Complete illiteracy: prisoners and general public. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/illiteracy.html>
Prison Policy Initiative. (2007). "Factsheets".
http://www.prisonpolicy.org/factsheets.html
This page provides fact sheets on policies and issues affecting prisoners. Several fact sheets specifically address female inmate issues.
An article that details factors for selecting and preserving materials.
King, Alan. "The care and feeding of your CD-ROM disk." Database 14 (6) (Dec 1991): 105-108.
A look at CD-ROM technology that includes a handy list of tips for preserving the discs.
Legal Service for Prisoners with Children. (2002). "Access to Medical Care in California Women's Prisons: An Overview".
http://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/pubs/barriers.pdf
Female prisoners face additional barriers to adequate healthcare beyond those experienced by male prisoners. One of these challenges is the frequent lack of "preventative healthcare education which would allow the women to learn how to manage their own medical problems".
Legal Service for Prisoners with Children. (2002). "Women Prisoners: Facts and Figures at a Glance".
http://www.prisonerswithchildren.org/pubs/womgen.pdf
The majority of women prisoners are mothers". Female inmates have gender-specific health concerns which are often not taken into consideration by correctional policies.
Lehmann, Vibeke. "Prison Librarians Needed: A Challenging Career for Those with the Right Professional and Human Skills." IFLA Journal. 26:2 (2000) 123-128.
Can be accessed online here.
Lehmann's background on prison libraries and librarians provides insight into the needs of this underserved demographic. Her discussion of the modern prison library provides a broad overview of the types of materials one might find in a prison library as well as the role of the librarian in these institutions.
Payne, William, Sabath, Michael J. (2007). Trends in the Use of Information Management Technology in Prison Libraries. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 26, 2.
This article discusses a research survey of prisons on how prison libraries are using technology.
Prison Policy Initiative. Complete illiteracy: prisoners and general public. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/illiteracy.html>
Prison Policy Initiative. (2007). "Factsheets".
http://www.prisonpolicy.org/factsheets.html
This page provides fact sheets on policies and issues affecting prisoners. Several fact sheets specifically address female inmate issues.
Richards, D.T, and L.W. McClure. “Selection fro preservation: considerations for the health sciences.” Bulletin of Medical Library Association. 77 (3) (July 1989): 284-292.
A paper on the issues surrounding weeding and preserving health-related documents.
A paper on the issues surrounding weeding and preserving health-related documents.
Schneider, Julia. (1996). Prison libraries change lives. American Libraries, November, 1996, p. 46-48.
Shirley, Glennor. (2007). "Censorship and Prison Libraries". American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/olos/outreachresource/btw0207.cfm
This article cites some of the restrictions and challenges to materials that may be faced in prison libraries. Hardcover books are often restricted due to concerns that they may be used for hiding contraband items. Some content of materials may be forbidden or censored due to concerns that certain information may be inappropriate for the inmates or may encourage future danger to the correctional officers or other inmates.
Shirley, Glennor. (2007). "Materials Selection Policy". Maryland Correctional Education Libraries.
http://ce.msde.state.md.us/library/collections07.htm
(Older, more complete version here): http://web.archive.org/web/20061002015450/http://ce.msde.state.md.us/library/collections.htm
This page covers the materials selection policy for Maryland Correctional Department libraries. Many elements of the policy are common to traditional community or educational libraries, with additional elements specific to prison libraries. Paperback copies of books are preferred, and materials should aid inmates in coping with prison life as well as helping them to prepare for re-integration into society.
Shirley, Glennor. (2004). "Prison Libraries and the Internet". American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/olos/outreachresource/prisoncolumn2.cfm
In 2004, many prison libraries had very restricted or non-existent inmate access to Internet resources. The article also discusses a CD ROM-based training program to help educate inmates on public library and Internet use for their lives after release from prison.
Singer, Glen (2000). Prison libraries inside and out. Education Libraries, 24, 1, p11-16.
Can be accessed online here.
Singer presents an insiders view of the organization and access issues inherent in working in a prison library. His analysis of the affect of the interaction between the prison librarian and the security personnel on library function and professional responsibility is particularly useful.
Stanford, Ann F. (2004). More than just words: women's poetry and resistance at Cook County jail. Feminist Studies, 30, 2, p. 277-301.
This article is about a writing workshop for prisoners led by the author. There is some discussion about mental health issues and women prisoners and also statistics on woman prisoners in Illinois and across the U.S.
Sullivan, Larry E. (2000). The least of our brethren. American Libraries, 31, 5, p. 56.
This article discusses the library's role in prisons and how legislation has affected library service in prisons over the the past few decades.
Women and Prison: A Site for Resistance. Women in prison fact sheet 2008. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.womenandprison.org/facts-stats.html >
Shirley, Glennor. (2007). "Censorship and Prison Libraries". American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/olos/outreachresource/btw0207.cfm
This article cites some of the restrictions and challenges to materials that may be faced in prison libraries. Hardcover books are often restricted due to concerns that they may be used for hiding contraband items. Some content of materials may be forbidden or censored due to concerns that certain information may be inappropriate for the inmates or may encourage future danger to the correctional officers or other inmates.
Shirley, Glennor. (2007). "Materials Selection Policy". Maryland Correctional Education Libraries.
http://ce.msde.state.md.us/library/collections07.htm
(Older, more complete version here): http://web.archive.org/web/20061002015450/http://ce.msde.state.md.us/library/collections.htm
This page covers the materials selection policy for Maryland Correctional Department libraries. Many elements of the policy are common to traditional community or educational libraries, with additional elements specific to prison libraries. Paperback copies of books are preferred, and materials should aid inmates in coping with prison life as well as helping them to prepare for re-integration into society.
Shirley, Glennor. (2004). "Prison Libraries and the Internet". American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/olos/outreachresource/prisoncolumn2.cfm
In 2004, many prison libraries had very restricted or non-existent inmate access to Internet resources. The article also discusses a CD ROM-based training program to help educate inmates on public library and Internet use for their lives after release from prison.
Singer, Glen (2000). Prison libraries inside and out. Education Libraries, 24, 1, p11-16.
Can be accessed online here.
Singer presents an insiders view of the organization and access issues inherent in working in a prison library. His analysis of the affect of the interaction between the prison librarian and the security personnel on library function and professional responsibility is particularly useful.
Stanford, Ann F. (2004). More than just words: women's poetry and resistance at Cook County jail. Feminist Studies, 30, 2, p. 277-301.
This article is about a writing workshop for prisoners led by the author. There is some discussion about mental health issues and women prisoners and also statistics on woman prisoners in Illinois and across the U.S.
Sullivan, Larry E. (2000). The least of our brethren. American Libraries, 31, 5, p. 56.
This article discusses the library's role in prisons and how legislation has affected library service in prisons over the the past few decades.
Women and Prison: A Site for Resistance. Women in prison fact sheet 2008. Accessed July 14, 2008.
<http://www.womenandprison.
