Challenges and Opportunities in Providing Academic Library Services to Incarcerated Higher Education Students: A Case Study from a Tennessee State Prison

Authors

Ryan E. Yoakum, Belmont UniversityFollow
Caroline Fleming, Belmont UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 11-1-2024

Abstract

This case study describes the Belmont University Library’s partnership with a Tennessee men’s prison to provide access to higher education. The program has led to challenges relating to communication, circulation, cataloging, and collection development. These library services are necessary to provide students with access to information not only for their academic endeavors, but also for their own well-being and growth. This paper explores possible solutions to the information deficit of incarcerated students and how the library can support the needs of an underserved population.

Recommended Citation

Yoakum, Ryan E. and Fleming, Caroline, "Challenges and Opportunities in Providing Academic Library Services to Incarcerated Higher Education Students: A Case Study from a Tennessee State Prison" (2024). Library Faculty Scholarship. 18.
https://repository.belmont.edu/libraryscholarship/18