big talk from small libraries 2017 - what is it like to work as a prison librarian?
TRANSCRIPT
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What’s It Like To Be
a Prison Librarian?
(It has its prose and cons…)
Big Talk From Small Libraries
Nebraska Library Commission
Mary Rayme * February 24, 2017
Huttonsville Correctional Center, Huttonsville, WV
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Hi! My name is Mary Rayme and I live and work in rural
West Virginia at the Huttonsville Correctional Center as
one of two Librarians. I have worked as a prison librarian
since November 2015 and I really enjoy my job.
Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 2
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 3
For security reasons,
I can’t show you a
photograph of my library.
I did find this one
small snapshot of
the Huttonsville
Correctional Center
in West Virginia.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 4
A little bit about my background…
• BFA in General Fine Arts
• M.S. in Information Technology
• Teacher, graphic designer, and grant writer
• Academic library, a museum library, and a public library
• I have about 8 years of professional library experience
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Huttonsville Correctional Center
• Houses around 1,100 male inmates
• Classified as a Medium-Maximum security prison
• A state run correctional facility built in 1939
• Education available: GED, cabinetry, auto repair, building maintenance, HVAC
• A.A. and B.S. degrees in Business and Land Management via the Pell Grant and Glenville State College
Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 5
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Huttonsville Correctional Center
Library Statistics
• 11,000 books, magazines, and newspapers
• Law library with computers (No Internet)
• Photocopier and printers
• 2 full-time Librarians
• 20 part-time library workers including legal clerks and janitors
• Interlibrary loans processed every year: 912 books
• Circulation stats 2016: 50,471 books
• Serves about 1,100 all-male inmates
Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 6
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The big difference between correctional
libraries and other libraries is…
SECURITYBig Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 7
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 8
Because I work in a medium-maximum security prison I work
with inmates who have committed:
• Sex offenses/abuse
• Rape
• Repeat drunk driving offenses
• Thieves and robbers
• Murderers
• Kidnappers
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My personal
safety, those of
my co-workers,
and the
neighboring
community is
my number one
goal everyday.
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10
Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme
To qualify for my job I had to pass a drug test and a
background check. I also had 4 weeks of orientation to
familiarize myself with the rules and procedures of the
prison. The policy and procedure manual alone is over
1,000 pages!
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 11
I was in orientation with about 15 other new employees, mostly
young correctional officers. Some of what we learned includes:
• CPR/First aid
• People managing
• Emergency management
• Policy and procedure
• Self defense
• Handcuffing
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 12
Inmates are big library users. Typically, they come to the
HCC Library to:
• Do legal work/research
• Check out books
• Read newspapers/magazines
• Work on schoolwork
• Hang out & socialize
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 13
Staying Safe in the Library
• Correctional Officers
• Cameras
• Radios
• Policy & procedure
• Positioning
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 14
The Daily Routine
• The hallmark of Huttonsville Correctional Center is
controlled movement
• This means that inmates have to sign out when leaving
to go to the library
• There are typically 2-3 library calls per day
• Every inmate has the opportunity to come to the library
at least once per day unless they are in segregation
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 15
So what do I do all day?
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 16
In a typical day…• Make photocopies of
legal work
• Answer reference
questions
• Order books
• Keep an eye on my
workers
• Keep an eye on the
inmates in the library
• Recommend books
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 17
In many ways, working in a prison library
is a lot like working in a library anywhere.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 18
I have some high maintenance patrons.
I need
it now!
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 19
I have many happy readers.
I love
Jane Austen!
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme
I have many interesting and thought
provoking conversations with patrons.
20
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 21
There are some big differences
between a prison library and other libraries…
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 22
• Keep your personal life to yourself.
• Some inmates are professional con
men and manipulators.
• It can be dangerous to reveal any
information about your personal life
that can be used against you.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 23
“You are not here to
make friends with inmates.”
~ Often repeated quote from orientation
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 24
• No personal phones at work
• Bring only what you can fit in a lunch box
• No wallet or identifying information
• Only plastic utensils
• No wi-fi
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 25
No fundraising! Yay!Funding for the library comes from the
state and the Inmate Benefit Fund.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 26
• I do not even have an
outside phone line in my
office.
• In my year and a half as a
prison librarian I have
received two personal
phone calls.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 27
Just to get to the ladies restroom I have to use
my keys to:
• Lock my office
• Unlock and then lock the library
• Unlock the restroom and lock it behind me.
Repeat in reverse to get back to the library
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 28
There are many groups and
factions within the prison to be
aware of including…
• Gang members (mostly DMI)
• White supremacists
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 29
Many of our books are graffiti-ed with:
• DMI pyramid and dog paws
• 14/88 (white supremacist)
• Obscenities
• Book reviews
Sadly, racism is alive and well in
America, especially in prisons.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 30
Working in
a prison
has changed
me mostly
for the better.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 31
I am less judgmental
and more tolerant.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 32
I have become a great lie detector.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 33
I can tell when
someone, or a
group of people,
is up to no good.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 34
There are two important skillsets
I came to prison with that help
me be a good prison librarian.
• Being a parent
• Having street smarts
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 35
My boundaries are tested everyday
and I have to say NO a lot!
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 36
BUT…
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 37
As rural librarians do we not value working
with an underserved population?
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 38
The rewards I receive as a
prison librarian are sometimes
better than a paycheck.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 39
• Many inmates have never used a
library on the outside before.
• Many inmates never read regularly
until they come to prison.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 40
While I hope that the
right book (or books)
may change an inmate’s
life, I am just happy if a
book helps someone get
through the night.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 41
The gratitude and respect that I receive from some
inmates is incredibly rewarding.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 42
The opportunity to create positive change in
an individual just through healthy and polite
interactions is abundant.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 43
Working in a prison is not for everyone.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 44
I see a lot of men with
wounds, stitches, and
black eyes.
There is a lot of violence in prison, most of
it inmate-on-inmate.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 45
Prison can be Very Depressing.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 46
Prison can also make you feel
very grateful for what you have.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 47
While some librarians may consider a prison job as
a profession of last resort I can only recommend it.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries, February 2017, Mary Rayme 48
I would like to give a thank you and a
sincere shout out to all rural librarians
‘cause you rock!