Library Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions
Numerical standards for access, staffing, seating and collection for adult correctional institution libraries.
The 1992 Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions are out of print. The numerical standards listed below are still a good guide for access, staffing, seating and collection for adult correctional institution libraries.
Access
General Population: Day, evening and weekend hours to provide at least five (5) hours per inmate per week in a professionally staffed library.
Limited Access Population—at least one of the following:
- One hour in library once per week
- Deposit collection which is the greater of 100 books or two per inmate in unit
- Book cart with 100 items available weekly
- List of 300 books and weekly delivery
Staff
| Inmate Population | Staff Size |
|---|---|
| 301-500 inmates | 1 Library Director 1 Library Technician or Clerk |
| 501-1000 inmates | 1 Library Director 2 Library Technicians or Clerks |
| 1001-1500 inmates | 1 Library Director 1 Assistant Librarian 2 Library Technicians or Clerks |
| 1501-2500 inmates | 1 Library Director 1 Assistant Librarian 3 Library Technicians or Clerks |
Seating
| Population | Available Seats |
|---|---|
| 301 - 500 inmates | 10% |
| 501 - 1000 inmates | 50 + 8% of population in excess of 500 |
| over 1000 inmates | 90 + 7% of population in excess of 1000 |
Book Budget
Funds for one hardcover book per inmate (70% of inmate population) per year, plus twenty per cent (20%) for loss.
Collection
| Population | # Of Titles |
|---|---|
| Books | Greater of 5000 titles or 15 titles per inmate up to maximum of 2,500 inmates |
| Magazines | Greater of 50 titles or one per ten inmates |
| Newspapers | Number based on regions represented by inmate population |
| Audio Recordings | 100 titles plus one per five inmates |
| Video Recordings | Greater of 20 titles or one per thirty inmates |
