In the days since a McKean County Prison inmate came forward
with a request for donations for an expanded library at the jail,
county residents have been generous in their response.

Warden Tim Woodruff said Tuesday, “We’ve had a real good
response.”

In fact, Woodruff said, the article asking for donations ran
Thursday in The Era and books started coming in right away.

“I get to work at seven o’clock and by 7:15, people were walking
through the door with donations,” he said with a laugh.

Woodruff thanked the people who have helped out so far, and said
the inmate who started the request – William Magee, 21 – is very
grateful as well.

“I do think there are people who are concerned,” Woodruff said.
He explained that McKean County is rather poor, and donations are
always appreciated.

By expanding the library through donations, the prison isn’t
spending tax dollars for that purpose and may be cutting down on
some of the problems that can happen at the jail.

Free time with inmates can lead to problems, Woodruff said.
“Dormant time tends to facilitate conversation that may not be
conducive to rehabilitation.”

With a variety of books to offer, inmates keep busy reading, and
can even further their educations with trade manuals or how-to
books.

Anyone interested in donating books to inmates can drop them off
at the jail, attention Warden Tim Woodruff at 17013 U.S. Route 6 in
Smethport.

The Bradford Era will be a drop-off location for donations as
well.

“It may be a situation where people don’t want to drive that far
with the price of gas,” Woodruff said.

But there are corrections officers who live in Bradford and work
at the jail who will transport any donations left at The Era to the
jail.

The Era drop-off location will be at the business office at 43
Main St. during regular business hours.

Any donated books or magazines should be looked through first to
make sure there are no personal identification labels or personal
items left inside.