History of the Jail Library Group

Summer 1992: The Jail Library Student Group began as a practicum, or practical library experience, done by Michele Besant, at that time a student in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies program at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Fall 1992: Michele Besant started practicum in the City County Building along with the help of Mike Exum, a Graduate student in the Adult Education Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fall 1993: Mike Exum recieved a Graduate School Research Award, which he used toward purchasing books and materials for the project

Volunteers joined the group, mostly from the the Criminal Justice Department of UW-Madison, the Madison community and some from the School of Library and Information Studies

Fall 1994: Library in the Public Safety Building opened. More volunteers join group, including students from the School of Library and Information Studies

Spring 1994: Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant money awarded to the group for a start-up collection in the Public Safety Building

Fall 1995: Program began to evolve into a learning experience for School of Library and Information Studies students

Fall 1996: Jail’s education program began to work with the library project

Winter 1996: Successful book and tape drive for Kids Connection by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection

Fall 1997: Kids Connection program began

Spring 1997: Dane County Library Services awarded another LSTA grant to start a job center for Huber (work release program) inmates through Mike Exum, Huber Counselor

Spring 1998: Project gains official status as a student group through the Student Organizations Office (SOO) at University of Wisconsin-Madison; official group name is chosen: The Jail Library Student Group, UW-Madison SLIS

Fall 1998: Jail Library Student Group receives funding from the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) as an official student group

Spring 1999: Lynn Montgomery, Volunteer Coordinator for the Dane County Sheriff’s Office nominates the the Jail Library Student Group, UW-Madison SLIS for the Presidental Points of Light Service Award; the group wins in the category of Public Safety out of over 3,000 nominations

Fall 2001: Students in Prof. Kristin Eschenfelder’s Information Architecture class, among them JLG coordinator Kristin Partlo, create the group’s web site

Fall 2002: JLG celebrates its tenth anniversary with a reception and guest speakers, including Sheriff Gary Hamblin, SLIS director Louise Robbins, and several volunteers

Fall 2003: JLG is the winner of the South Central Library System’s Chester Pismo Snidely Award for a Nifty Activity

Spring 2004: JLG releases its 2003 Annual Report to the Wisconsin library community

Memorial Day Weekend 2004: Volunteers move the PSB library collection and Kids Connection materials to a new office in the jail

Spring 2005: JLG releases its 2004 Annual Report to the Wisconsin library community

Spring 2006: JLG releases its 2005 Annual Report to the Wisconsin library community

Spring 2007: JLG releases its 2006 Annual Report to the Wisconsin library community

Spring 2008: JLG releases its 2007 Annual Report to the Wisconsin library community