FEBRUARY 2012 UPDATE

We are saddened to report that eight library positions are empty in the DOC system. This is the same number of vacancies reported when we started 3Rs more than a year ago. Librarians and library staff have been hired and others retired or moved to different positions. We continue to advocate that those positions be filled.

In the meantime,  Todd Kington of the Carbondale Chapter has made contact with the librarian at Big Muddy and is preparing to get books for that institution.
The Carbondale Chapter has also created their own blog! and a Facebook Page for all 3Rs groups. Be sure to “like” this group!

There new librarian at Vandalia is terrific! Gail Warner of Effingham is working with him. Anyone in Eastern Central Illinois who can work with Gail to meet the book needs of Vandalia, please let us know!

Phil Fiscella brought a ton of books from Human Kinetics (an Urbana, IL textbook company) and we are getting boxes of sports books to Sheridan and Danville. Barbara Kessel recently mailed boxes to Big Muddy and Vandalia.

After many conversations and contacts, the TUC 3Rs Chapter will start delivering books to Stateville prison. This is great news. They are looking for books in the categories listed below. For more information, contact Leah Shapiro to work with that Chapter.

Requests from Stateville:
African American Books and Poetry (Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Barack Obama); Trades, Autobiographies, Books for Dads; Bi-lingual books and magazines, ESL materials (Spanish/Polish); G.E.D. materials, *Preparation for the T.A.B.E. (Tests of Adult Basic Education); Sports (Fiction, Biographies and Magazines); Prisoners’ Rights Books; Educational reference such as science theory books. (Not old technical manuals); Reference books that relate to any religions (prisoners have over 50 religions); Books on scientific approaches to thinking; Self-help, especially on anger problems; Addictive behaviors other than drugs/alcohol, e.g., “behavioral” addictions; Image Building (self-image); Creative Writing; Life skills, communication skills; Philosophy; Entertainment reading/Fiction/Mystery