Libraries are never so much fun as when the four legged patrons come to the library. Not all prison libraries in Washington State have animals as part of their loyal patron base, but those that do find joy in getting a ‘pawshake’ and handing out a biscuit. Airway Heights Corrections Library and Stafford Creek Corrections Library both share anecdotes of their “favorite” patrons. He is so cute. Shakes and gives High 5. He sits up tall and will stay up…
By the late 1990’s Western State Hospital began to admit a number of Russian patients with limited English language skills. At the time the Library, a branch of the Washington State Library, had no Russian print material. When discussing this problem with one of the recreation therapists, the 2 of us suddenly realized that the Internet was an entirely new universe for Russian web sites as well as for other countries and in many languages. One day, probably around 2000…
One favorite patron was a person you might describe as a “naive offender”. He was a regular library visitor, and he shared an interest in the natural world with us. He was illiterate, but he was frequently bringing to the library things he had found outside on his walks. Birds eggs that had fallen to the ground intact, even a nest that he had taken from a broken bird house. We always displayed his finds. During the last few years…
The following is a story told to me by a fellow prison librarian. Since I liked it so much I decided to share it. Two of the best library patrons I ever had were two older men I called the library angels. I can’t tell you they had always been angels. Obviously, they had both committed crimes that led to a prison sentence. But after many years of incarceration, they presented themselves as polite and respectful human beings. One night…
Unlike my cohorts in the prisons, the customers I serve in the large psychiatric hospital of Western State Hospital are not passionate bibliophiles. Mind you, they love movies, magazines and music. Those fly back and forth on the library shelves. But a book-lover? This, alas, is somewhat rare. And so, when I am contacted by a true aficianado of the written word, they instantly become a beloved patron. I have two such patrons now. She is a fan of the…
Really, they are not all bad. Yes they have done bad things and they have gotten caught. They are now incarcerated, but occassionaly one of them might surprise you. Working in a prison library I see it all when it comes to patron types. We all have them, the quiet one that comes in every week or couple of weeks. Wouldn’t really notice him or her, except that they are just like clockwork. Then there are those that when they walk in the…