Institutional Library Services

The following is a story told to me by a fellow prison librarian. Since I liked it so much I decided to share it. Two of the best library patrons I ever had were two older men I called the library angels. I can’t tell you they had always been angels. Obviously, they had both committed crimes that led to a prison sentence. But after many years of incarceration, they presented themselves as polite and respectful human beings. One night these men started coming to the library every night, where they would sit quietly on the floor among the library shelves and put the books back in order.

[caption id="attachment_340" align="alignleft" width="236" caption="Old time card catalog of the Baby Boomers"]

I can proudly say that I have visited all of our Institutional libraries here in Washington, or at least I used to be able to. Now I have one new one that I need to visit and from the pictures I would have to say this will be one of the more impressive ones that we have. The pictures show the work in progress as the library is being set up by the dedicated staff at Coyote Ridge. They have their work cut out for them as they unpack thousands of books and CDs. Then comes the fun part, organizing everything in the most efficient and effective manner for such a large space.

Really, they are not all bad. Yes they have done bad things and they have gotten caught. They are now incarcerated, but occassionaly one of them might surprise you. Working in a prison library I see it all when it comes to patron types. We all have them, the quiet one that comes in every week or couple of weeks. Wouldn't really notice him or her, except that they are just like clockwork. Then there are those that when they walk in the door you cringe, you may even look for a place to hide, because you really just can't deal with them today.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="ALA Welcome Poster"][/caption] Walking into the Seattle Public Library you will find several floors of books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and newspapers with many of them in different languages. This is because the library serves a diverse population and many languages are spoken by its patrons.

Of Program Managers and Leporidae*

It has recently been suggested,

(and although this may sound funny),

our esteemed leader has been likened to...

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="117" caption="WSH Library"][/caption] Most of the institution libraries have a history, but WSH probably has one of the more interesting ones.