Literacy: A Way Out for At-Risk Youth - Softcover

Sweeney, Jennifer

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1598846744 ISBN 13: 9781598846744

Publisher: Libraries Unlimited, 2011

Synopsis

This exploration of juvenile corrections librarianship provides a complete description of these specialized services, addresses unique challenges in this library environment, and promotes intellectual and social growth for at-risk youth.

The facts regarding juvenile corrections are grim. In California alone, 13,000 youth are housed as wards of the state. Rearrest rates for young people in detention and correction facilities range from 77 to 90 percent. The good news is youth corrections librarianship has the potential to improve the situation.

This book fills a gap in the literature on corrections librarianship, which is focused almost solely on adult prisons. Programs for juvenile offenders require significantly more emphasis on education and rehabilitation than adults. There is also greater urgency in delivering needed services to youth offenders. Literacy: A Way Out for At-Risk Youth provides librarians in juvenile detention facilities with tools to face their unique challenges, such as collaborating with corrections staff and encouraging youth to maintain their connection to the library after release. The author's recommendations for reader's advisory, collection development, and other services are geared toward helping teens cope with their problems and develop better decision making skills.

About this title

About the Author

Jennifer Sweeney, PhD, is adjunct professor at The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology, Philadelphia, PA.

Reviews

Based on the author's research project, this book advocates for library services to young adults in detention facilities, with an emphasis on the long-term benefits and value of these services. It offers support, advice, and techniques for librarians working with these young people. Chapter one covers the history of the detention system, the various types of institutions created for housing juveniles throughout history, the establishment of juvenile court, various interventions used for dealing with troubled youth, and the eventual realization of the importance and value of developing library services for them. Although each state follows its own rules in handling juveniles, chapter two outlines the basic steps of the juvenile process in court. Chapters three and four address the essential information needs that will help with this group's future success, and the value of literacy and readers' advisory programs. Remaining chapters describe models based on school and public libraries, a number of programs used successfully, issues specific to this particular setting, and the important place of the library within the system. The last chapter stresses the need for providing reading opportunities, access to information, research skills, and rehabilitation through library services for those at risk. Throughout, figures, tables, sidebars, and website addresses support the text. Several appendixes include many detailed policy models; extensive resource lists covering advocacy, collection development, directories, juvenile justice, youth programs, and teen issues. A reference list and index conclude this informative title.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NEα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1598846744
• ISBN 13: 9781598846744
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 156