I was told on 12/3/12 that the WCCW State Library branch and the WCCW law library were going to trade spaces. On 12/10/12 we closed the branch library and began to pack up and move 542 boxes of books to storage in a warehouse on the grounds. We were told the transition would take 30 to 60 days. I relocated to a dismal cubicle in another building. As it turned out the original estimate of 60 days turned into 90…
On May 10th, 2012 the WCCW Library hosted a poetry reading. Laura Sherbo and Doug Gelis planned the event and invited 3 poets to come and read their and other poet’s poems. 70 inmates signed up to attend and 35 showed up to listen to poetry read. This was held in the WCCW Visit Room. The first poet to read was Kathleen Flenniken. Kathleen is the current Poet Laureate of Washington State. The second poet to read was Merna…
The new year started off with a bang. On 1/11/11 we hosted Library Snapshot Day at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. The day really highlighted who we are and what we do everyday. Inmates had their photos taken in the library and were told how their friends and families could access their pictures on Facebook. Jump to March and the hot issue became library expansion. Laura and I met with our Associate Supt to talk about expanding the library…
A newsletter at Washington Corrections Center for Women covers several topics including community, health, and historical figures. The February 2012 issue of the Village Voice included an article on Leroy Eldridge Cleaver: “By his example we learn that though we have spent our years struggling with the law or addiction, it does not mean that we aren’t someone of importance. WE ARE SOMEBODY!!!” This article is inspiring and offers the women in WCCW the inspiration they need to know that…
In these tough times it can be hard to stay positive. We wait for budget cuts to decide our fates and hope that book budgets will not disappear and libraries will not close. However, there are encouraging things that are happening. Not only did the inmates from Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) donate $1000 to their library, we received a $3000 donation from the Muckleshoot Native American Tribe for the library at Washington Corrections Center (WCC). This donation has…
Doug Gelis, one happy librarian with $1000 donation When the inmates at Washington Corrections Center for Women heard that my book budget was frozen ( again ) , they asked me if there was anything that they could do. I informed them that I could take donations. Soon after this the tier reps approached me and said they were going to do a fundraiser for the library. Last week I sent a check to Laura Sherbo for $1000.00 which is…
It is not everyday that inmates are recognized for the work they do for the community. Inmates are serving time for a crime they have committed against society. However, many of them are making a difference in any way they can. This includes the Braille Team at WCCW. These women have taken the time to develop their skill and to become certified so that they can provide a wonderful service to the blind community. To read more about the service that…