OLYMPIA — Institutional Library Services, a program of the Washington State Library, received the Outstanding Service Award for its work with incarcerated and hospitalized adults, and justice impacted youth patrons.
The Washington Library Association gives this award to individuals or programs who contribute outstanding work on behalf of libraries.
Institutional Library Services has branches in state prisons, hospitals, and one juvenile facility. While these branches provide patrons with reading materials, they also serve as a place where patrons can experience normalcy and respect in environments typically defined by restriction.
These libraries also serve as an important link between patrons and the outside world through subscriptions to magazines and newspapers, and an array of re-entry resources.
“Within the library, patrons are able to reconnect with society and a sense of self, reminding them that they are people rather than ‘offenders,’” said one Institutional Library Services branch librarian. “This can kindle a feeling of self-respect and hope for the future within a patron.”
Institutional Library Services remains an advocate for the intellectual freedom and privacy rights of patrons.
The program manager serves on the Department of Corrections publications review board to provide a voice for the rights of those they serve. Program managers have historically negotiated with facilities to increase access to library materials and protect the privacy of patron library records.
“The ILS team is incredibly dedicated and hardworking,” said program manager Russell Roe. “They deserve recognition for their efforts, not just in the library community, but amongst the statewide community as well, because the work they do ultimately affects all Washingtonians.”
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.