The Jail Library Student Group, a volunteer organization at UW-Madison that provides library services to Dane County Jail inmates, celebrated its 10-year anniversary Wednesday.
JLSG provides all reading materials to more than 1,000 inmates in two downtown Madison jail facilities in the City County Building and the Public Safety Building, according to Kristin Partlo, a graduate student at UW-Madison and student coordinator of JLSG.
\We're driven by the value of reading and what it can do to people,"" she said. ""Inmates are a group of society that are underserved and often forgotten. I am a believer in the corrections system helping to better people, rather than just locking them away.""
Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin said the program is important, as many inmates haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of recreational or educational reading.
""I think that's one of the greatest benefits that JLSG brings; giving inmates the opportunity to discover reading,"" he said. ""Not only does reading help the inmates pass the time, but it also offers them hope and tremendous educational opportunities.""
Partlo said the group has about 30 members including undergraduate and graduate students, as well as community members.
Inmates have responded positively to the program. A group of female inmates has formed a reading group of sorts, exchanging books between each other and recommending books to other inmates.
Hamblin said JLSG's efforts have also created a more pleasant atmosphere overall at Dane County Jails.
""I went through one evening after lights out and was struck by the number of men reading in their bunks,"" he said.
Partlo said JLSG's most popular program is the Kids Connection Program, which allows inmates to ""read"" to their children at home. She said inmates choose a book and read it aloud, recording it on a cassette tape. JLSG then sends the tape and book to the child, allowing absent parents to encourage reading and participate in their child's development.
JLSG's materials come from a variety of sources including discarded books from the Madison Public Library system and donations from book stores, according to Partlo.
""We also have a donation bin in the Law Library and in College Library, so lots of our materials come from undergrads,"" she said.
Partlo said JLSG is always looking for volunteers and donations and anyone interested in the organization should visit their Web site at http://slisweb.lis.wisc.edu/~jail.
