This document discusses the reasons for providing public library service to local jails from the viewpoint of the inmate, the library, and the jail administrator; and provides guidelines for establishing and operating this service. Topics covered include: obtaining approval from library and jail administrators for a library jail program; material selection policies; book processing; professional and support staff requirements and responsibilities; procedures for providing access to library materials and services; recordkeeping; the scheduling of library activities; dress, language, and other problems related to library jail services; and security. Special programming activities are also suggested, including films, discussion groups, literary publication of inmates' writing and artwork, and art shows. Appendices present a worksheet for planning library services to jails; a suggested list of authors, paperback books, and magazines for library jail collections; a suggested list of sources of gift publications; and a nine-item glossary. (ESR)