Library Services for Incarcerated Youth
Resources
Organization Websites
Library Services for Youth in Custody (LSYC)
LSYC is a website developed by and for JDC librarians. It includes book lists, collection development resources, and forums for discussion
Changing Lives Through Literature
CLTL is an alternative sentencing program based on the power of literature to transform lives.
Literacy for Incarcerated Teens (LIT)
(LIT) is a non-profit organization working to end illiteracy among New York’s incarcerated young people by inspiring them to read.
For more organizations, visit the successful projects page
Blogs
Changing Lives, Changing Minds
This is the official blog of the Changing lives, Changing Minds organization.
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
Keep up to date with what is going on in the world of juvenile justice with through this information exchange.
Get in an inside look at the work of a prison librarian through the Prison Librarian blog.
Youth Published Works
The Beat Within is a weekly publication of writings by youth in detention
A quarterly journal published by youth in detention.
Resources on Urban Fiction
Exploring Prison Librarianship- Urban Fiction Resources
Exploring Prison Librarianship is the go to site if you want to find useful resources on developing an urban fiction collection at your library
Street Fiction offers a wealth of book reviews, interviews, and news related to urban fiction.
ListServs
The YALSA Lockdown list is a listserv that brings together jdc librarians, and those who are interested in library services to youth in custody.
ALA's prison-l listserv brings together those who are interested in providing library services to adults and youth who are incarcerated.
Resource Guides
These three websites provide tools for developing and implementing services in JDC libraries.
Going Beyond the Bars
Libraries, Literacy, and Juvenile Correctional Facilities
Youth Services Librarianship for Incarcerated Youth Wiki
Articles cited on this website
Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2008) Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative: A Successful Approach to Comprehensive Reform. available at:
http://jdcresource.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/juvenile_detention_alternatives_initiative.pdf
-This report provides information about alternatives to incarceration.
Bodart, J.R. (2008). It’s All About the Kids: Presenting Options and Opening Doors. Young Adult Library Services, 7(1), 35-45.
-This article focuses on JDC librarian Amy Cheney's services to youth in detention. It discusses the importance of teaching youth about reading and writing and about helping them connect with the outside world.
Dittmann, K. (2007). Between the Lines: Girls in Detention Escape into Books. The Monthly, 37(7).
-This article focuses on Amy Cheney's services to girls in detention. She emphasizes moving library services beyond books to focus on restorative outcomes.
Gilman, I. (2008). Beyond Books: Restorative Librarianship in Juvenile Detention Centers. Public Libraries, 47(1), 59-66.
-Most juvenile detention center libraries focus on literacy and recreational reading. Gilman argues that jdc libraries can extend their scope to focus on restorative justice. Restorative justice focuses on meaningful repayment of harms done and gives a role to the victims of crimes in determining how offenders can best be accountable for their actions. Restorative justice opens a possibility for libraries to offer more than just books and support restorative aims of competency development and accountability.
Jones, P. (2004). Reaching Out to Young Adults in Jail. Young Adult Library Services, 3(1), 16-19.
-This article describes the importance of extending librry outreach services to youth in detention.
Vacca, J. (2008). Crime Can Be Prevented If Schools Teach Juvenile Offenders to Read. Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 1055-1062.
-This article addresses the following three questions: (1) “What is the reading achievement of the juvenile offender?” (2) “What is the relationship between the reading achievement of juvenile offenders and recidivism?” and (3) “What can schools do to improve the reading achievement of juvenile offenders?”
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2008). Introduction to the survey of youth in residential placement. OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Available at:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/218390.pdf
-This report provides statistics on youth in detention.
There have been A LOT of articles published on Juvenile Detention Center librarianship. Take a look at a list I have compiled here.
Books
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. (1999). Library Standards for Juvenile Correctional Facilities. Chicago: American Library Association.
-While this book is dated, it provides a great overview of the standards for developing a successful JDC library.
Sweeney, J. (2012). Literacy: A Way Out for At-Risk Youth. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
-This book provides an overview of the information needs of youth in detention and provides examples of model jdc library services and programs.
