Education and Job Training

Library Services

Allen Overstreet
Library Services Administrator
(904) 414-1645
SUNCOM 994-1645

Library Services is responsible for administering the department's general library and law library programs. General library programs provide print and audio-visual materials essential to support the activities of the institution's education and treatment programs; resources to permit inmates to achieve functional literacy; and the resources needed to provide inmates with access to current information and to promote reading as a rewarding leisure time activity. As required by law, the law library programs provide inmates with the materials and services necessary to secure access to the courts; access to law library collections and trained inmate law clerks, and access to related legal services such as copying services, notary services, and supply services for insolvent inmates.

General Facts about Libraries in Florida's Prisons

• In FY 95-96, Library Services operated 61 general library programs for inmates in correctional institutions, work camps, forestry camps and drug treatments centers attached to correctional institutions.
• In FY 95-96, general library programs were open an average of 322 days; visited 1,415,801 times by inmates; circulated 919,300 books, 1,118,829 newspapers and periodicals; responded to 156,306 reference questions; and conducted 14,739 special programs; including library orientation, audio-visual programs, discussion group activities, Black History Month, Women's History Month, and Rainbow Cultural Unity Month.
• The Florida Department of Corrections complies with Bounds v. Smith (1977) by providing its inmates with access to a system of 63 law libraries: 45 major collection law libraries, 16 minor collection law libraries, and two starter collection law libraries.
• During FY 95-96, inmates visited law libraries, or secured research assistance from law libraries, over 750,000 times.

If you or your business wish to donate general library books or legal books to the Department of Corrections, please contact Allen Overstreet at (904) 414-1645