Jail Library Service
What is the Jail Project
The MCPL Jail Library Project is a cooperative agreement between the Monroe
County Correctional Center and the Monroe County Public Library. This service
allows the library to adequately serve jail inmates. The Monroe County Correctional
Center provides the space for the library within the center, as well as funds
for books and other library materials. The Monroe County Public Library provides
staff members to open the library three afternoons a week and order the materials.
Why provide library service to jails?
Most of the explosive situations which occur in local jails stem from prisoner
idleness and boredom. Reading:
- combats idleness and boredom
- provides a positive leisure time activity
- provides an outlet for frustrations
- provides information for self-improvement
and re-entry
Library service aids the jail administration in
complying with standards. Library service also helps ease some of the stress
caused by incarceration and overcrowding. All parties benefit from jail library
service.
How Often Is It Used?
In 1999, over 4,100 patrons used the Jail Library, roughly 80 patrons per
week. They checked out 17,034 items.
