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 |
Reviewed by the Library Service to the Incarcerated and Detained Interest Group and ASGCLA Staff, March 2020.