The Prison Library Primer: A Program for the Twenty-First Century

A practical guide to running a prison library, this is a completely re-written update of her 1995 book titled Down for the Count: a Prison Library Handbook. It begins with an historical summary, then follows up with chapters on space planning and furnishing, collection development, and some aspects unique to prison libraries, such as lack of Internet access, use of hardback books for smuggling contraband, and how libraries can assist in reentry efforts). The book also features two chapters on law libraries in prisons, and contains extensive bibliographic notes and five useful appendices. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Brenda Vogel spent 26 years as the Coordinator of Maryland Correctional Education Libraries. An outspoken advocate for prison library services, Vogel was named Library Journal's Librarian of the Year in 1989. She is the author of Down for the Count: A Prison Library Handbook (Scarecrow, 1995).