Evaluating Impact in the Forgotten Field of Prison Librarianship

Abstract

For decades, a number of prison librarians and researchers have decried the near-total lack of data in their field regarding the impact of prison libraries on incarcerated individuals. In spite of their critiques, the majority of prison library literature remains descriptive in nature and relies more on speculation than empirical claims when describing impact. This paper attempts to identify the main reasons why it is so difficult to adequately evaluate the impact of prison library services. Following an exploration of these issues, suggestions for strengthening impact evaluation in prison libraries are proposed.

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