CCRJC Book Drive Flyer

Repurposing Project

Prepared for:

Aminah BarnesCannon, Professor

English 402, Washington State University

Prepared by:

Lisa Foote
Mark Gray
Kristen Hankins
Shane Houtrouw
November 15, 2015

Letter of Transmittal
Date: November 15, 2015
To: Professor Aminah BarnesCannon
From: Lisa Foote, Mark Gray, Kristen Hankins, Shane Houtrouw
Subject: Repurposed Project Report
In October 2015, Professor Aminah Barnes-Cannon directed groups of students to
collaborate, plan, and repurpose a project. Our group elected to repurpose a project that
had originally been created and recommended to Professor Barnes-Cannon. The
approved projects purpose was to conduct research to determine the best way to develop
and redesign the inmate library system at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center
(CCRJC). This report is designed to present the analysis and findings conducted for the
renovation of the inmate library system.
Our group began by discussing different marketing strategies that have been proven to be
most effective in rural communities. We then conducted research on other successful
inmate library programs and received feedback from local organizations about their
potential interest in becoming donators. Our group found that creating an informative
flyer or pamphlet would be an acceptable means of communicating the need for donated
books to the inmate library.
We completed the tasks outlined in our justification memo: researching existing book
drives, familiarizing ourselves with acceptable forms of donations, and producing the
flyer to be used to promote the book drive. To carry out these tasks we researched
booksthroughbars.org and bookstoprisoners.net websites to steer us in the right direction
for book donation programs that are intended for incarcerated individuals.
Our group recommends producing this informational flyer, posting it in various public
areas, providing copies to appropriate community organizations, and making it available
online.
Keywords: flyer, CCRJC, inmate, library

2 | Page

Table of Contents

Letter of Transmittal

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Research Methods

Results

Conclusions

Recommendations

Appendix

References

3 | Page

Executive Summary
On October 26, 2015 we began working on a repurposing project selected from
presentations pitched by the members of this team. After discussion among the group
and approval from the instructor, we started work on an informational flyer for the
Chelan County Regional Justice Center (CCRJC) and surrounding community regarding
access to library materials for inmates at the justice center. Access to educational books
and reading material has been shown to help inmates better serve their time while
incarcerated, positively affecting inmate/staff safety and reducing recidivism rates
amongst offenders. We conducted research into other book donation programs for
inmates. Several non-profit organizations contribute to jail and prison libraries
nationwide. The most interesting website researched was www.prisonbookprogram.org.
They offered an entire list of donated books they accept, going into detail on specifically
preferred genres and what they could not use. Prison Book Programs list gave us a
better idea of an informational flyer to provide to potential donors. We used their list,
added in our own specific requirements of what CCRJC accepts in the facility, and
created a flyer.

4 | Page

Introduction
The Chelan County Regional Justice Center (CCRJC) holds up to 350 inmates who have
limited access to educational and beneficial recreational services. There is no inmate
library at the local county jail and inmates have repeatedly requested access to various
books.
Currently CCRJC has no outside resources for obtaining reading material for its inmates.
The books that they do have available are old, extremely worn out, and are of genres that
hold little educational value. Due to restrictive budgetary constraints, they are unable to
expend funds towards the purchase of new material.
The group has developed a plan and performed the following tasks:
Determined which community organizations would be interested in donating to
our library.
Determined how to successfully market the donation program, including
evaluating any potential benefits to the donators.
Determined what kind of reading material would be of most benefit to the
inmates.
Research Methods
Our approach to the repurposing project was to study established book donation programs
and learn from their examples the types of information that would benefit our flyer. We
analyzed our audience to be the general public as a whole, based on the idea that our flyer
would be an advertisement for people who are interested in helping the jail get access to
books and the flyer would be a resource for people to share amongst the community. The
flyer would be posted in community centers and other community bulletin boards. To
ensure our flyer grabbed the publics attention we took into account the design tips found
in Chapter 11 of Technical Communication Washington State University Edition 11th
Edition by Mike Markel. The proper use of graphics, size of headings to show
importance, and choice to do a one-column flyer were all utilized.
The internet was our resource for researching other book donation programs, specifically
ones that catered to the prisons in Washington State. We found that there are many
programs, mostly volunteer ran that work with inmates and prisons by donating books.
The most informative is an organization called Books Through Bars found at
http://booksthroughbars.org/. Their website has tons of great information on the types of
books that are generally under donated and the importance of letting donators know the
regulations of the prisons they would like to donate to. This led to research the
regulations of Chelan County Regional Justice Center through their online pamphlet. We
found that they, like many other jails, only take paperback books through the mail.

5 | Page

The process we used to complete the project was to assign a member to research and data
compilation. Then another member took that information and designed a flyer. Finally, an
editor was assigned for proofreading and editing.
Results
The final repurposed project is a one page flyer advertising the need for library materials
at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. It will serve our intended audience by
successfully advertising the opportunity to donate to a good cause. Its design makes it
perfect for readers to understand and will stand out on bulletin boards to attract readers.
Conclusions
In this section the group presents our conclusions based on the research and results we
have found relating to the book donation program.
The reading material that would be of most benefit to an inmate varies. There seems to
be interest in paperback fiction in genres like mystery, thriller, and western. Romance
and chick lit holds little interest and so that should be left of the request list. There is a
need and desire for educational literature, including how to books and law books.
The organizations of a religious nature that were contacted have an interest in donating
religious material. We are unsure of the inmates interest in this type of text.
Recommendations
We would recommend continuing and expanding the list of contacts for potential
donations. These contacts should be provided the flyer created as well as have a contact
person at the jail they can call and discuss any questions or concerns.
We would also recommend meeting with inmates and discussing their needs. As the jail
demographic expands and changes, the library should continue to evolve and have
material that the population requests.
Lastly, we recommend outreach to other prison and jail facilities. Seeing how other
library systems work can only benefit our own.

6 | Page

Appendix

Chelan County Regional Justice Center

Scholars and practitioners alike have long been arguing that

opportunities for reading and writing in prisons can become a dignifying
tool for prisoners to re-evaluate and reconstruct their lives, with positive
impact on recidivism rates and thus society as a whole.

Chelan County is asking for books to be donated

to the inmate library:
Prune your book collection & help your community!

7 | Page

Books In Need

PaperbackBooks We Dont Need

Dictionaries
Hardcover
Basic
Mathbooks
&Reading
Childrens
High
School
Textbooks
Outdated
computer,
reference, law, or text
GED
booksStudy Guides
Drug
Alcohol
Recovery
Books&with
spiral
or comb bindings (metal or
plastic) Skills
Parenting
Vocational/Trades: HVAC, electrical, plumbing,
construction, etc.

401 Washington Street St Level 2

Wenatchee WA 98801

(509) 667-6462

References
Books To Prisoners. Left Bank Books, 92 Pike St., Box A, Seattle, WA 9810.
http://www.bookstoprisoners.net/
House, Glint. Books Through Bars. Books. Knowledge. Change. 2013.
http://booksthroughbars.org/
Marckel, Mike. Technical Communication Washington State University Edition 11th
Edition. Chapter 11. Bedford/St. Martins. 2016

8 | Page