Foreword - Maryland Correctional Education Libraries

The Directory of State Prison Librarians has been developed for the purpose of improving communication between the often-isolated librarians working in state correctional libraries and to serve as a resource and networking aid.

This Directory began as a project of the ASCLA Library Service to Prisoners Forum of the American Library Association. This Committee, as well as the American Correctional Association Libraries Committee, is involved in:

1. Formulating, promoting and implementing standards for library service in correctional institutions,
    
2. Providing guidance in the establishment and improvement of libraries in these correctional institutions,
    
3. Raising the consciousness of people within the library and correctional community regarding the particular library and information needs of all prisoners,
    
4. Serving as clearinghouses for information, ideas, materials, programs and human resources for correctional library services and
    
5. Promoting cooperation among library and correctional agencies. It is important that you contribute to the valuable work of these committees by joining these professional organizations.

Updated May 19, 2009