[Bookstoprisoners] Will do requests for prisoners

[Jay Schubert]

Susan / All,

Tonight I updated our public website (www.books2prisoners.org) so that
the requests
page <http://www.books2prisoners.org/system/requests.php> reflects the
actual pending requests in the system.  I don't see any problem with using
it for the county jail inmates as well, though we'd have to get some
identifying info from them and would probably want to adopt some convention
- like attaching a prefix of "DJ" for downtown Jail or "SJ" for satellite
jail to their id's when creating the requests.

I agree that it only makes sense to get the inmates names and possibly their
id# too.  In addition to using the web site, do we also want to keep a
record in the card file box of requests?  If we only publish the inmates ID
on the website (for privacy reasons), I agree that it might also be helpful
to know their name when requests are fulfilled and delivered to the jail so
we can tie-out the requests.

Susan, I'll send you a separate email explaining what's involved in adding
and removing books from this list (it's fairly simple and can be done from
any computer with an internet connection).

thanks,
Jay


On 2/1/06, Susan Porter Bruce <susanpbruce at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> It seems there's a need for someone to coordinate requests and I
> raise my hand.
>
> My understanding:
>
> -There's a list online (but not readily accessible, except to those
> in the know) of requests that prisoners have made. These are those
> books that volunteers have deemed we might find somehow. This is a
> judgement call, to some extent.
>
> -Those who go to the Jail also take requests, scribbled down and then
> posted to the Librarians' list. These are usually more generic---
> genres or authors.
>
> -Flora from Jane Addams can sometimes respond to requests and provide
> books.
>
> I suggest we try:
>
> -putting books on the request list at BtP, with prisoner #.
>
> -sharing the jail requests by posting or writing to me.
>
> I will talk to Flora and perhaps other used bookstores about donating
> requested titles. I'll pick them up every 1-2 weeks and bring them in
> marked as requests. I'll either put in Jail box marked, or in a
> Requests area, or, if time allows,  mail them myself.
>
> [At the Jail, it's hard to know how to deal with requests. I have
> sometimes kept them on the table near the card box, hoping the right
> person (e.g. Spanish speaking or low-vision) will show up, if I knew
> them. But when we don't, should we take names?  I know the dad, whose
> son is also there, wants certain Westerns. Maybe we should just stock
> shelves and hope they find them.]
>
> Let me know if you see some other way to do this.
>
> Susan
>
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>



--
Jay
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