Report: “Prison Libraries Brace For Staffing and Program Cuts After IMLS Funding Loss”
From Corrections 1:
Correctional facilities in several states are facing program disruptions following the termination of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that has supported prison libraries for decades.
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According to the Washington State Library, the termination of IMLS funding may result in fewer open hours and reduced programming at prison library branches. In the past, libraries staffed by a single librarian would close when the employee was absent. The IMLS grant had helped expand staffing to prevent that from happening, the Washington State Department of Corrections said.
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The Illinois Department of Corrections received a $420,000 IMLS grant in 2023 to support libraries at 28 correctional facilities. The funds were intended to provide reading materials and services that promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, according to the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS).
Read the Complete Article (about 800 words)
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
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