Opening Doors, Turning Pages: How Prison Libraries Help Build Second Chances

Across the country, prison libraries and book donation programs such as Books to Prisons are giving incarcerated people the tools, skills, and sense of connection they need to prepare for life after incarceration.

A new American Library Association (ALA) Policy Perspectives report, Investing in Prison Libraries: A Cost-Effective Path to Safer Communities and Second Chances, underscores what librarians and advocates have long known: When people in prison have access to books, education, and library-led programs, communities benefit.

Why Prison Libraries Matter

More than two million adults are incarcerated in US prisons, and each year, more than 700,000 leave federal and state prisons and return home. The question is: What kind of support do they have when they get there?

ALA’s report makes a clear case: Fully funded prison libraries lower recidivism by supporting literacy, digital access, job readiness, and family connections. Incarcerated individuals who read, learn, and develop new skills through library programs are better prepared for reentry and less likely to return to prison.

When prison libraries are adequately staffed and resourced, they offer more than books on the shelves. They provide:

• Literacy and Job Skills. They help people create résumés, build digital literacy, and even research how to start small businesses after release.
• Family Connection. Through family literacy programs, parents in prison can record themselves reading books aloud for their children, keeping families bonded through stories.
• Education and Empowerment. Incarcerated individuals can access materials that support high school equivalency, college coursework, and financial literacy.
  

These programs don’t just change lives; they change outcomes. According to the ALA, investing in prison libraries is

“a critical step in moving towards providing incarcerated individuals with tools—rather than barriers—to return to their communities better-equipped for life after incarceration.”

Take action today to support libraries!

The Books to Prisons Movement

Grassroots programs such as Books to Prisons complement formal prison libraries by ensuring that people in facilities without robust collections still have access to reading materials. Volunteers collect, package, and ship thousands of donated books every year, ranging from legal guides and vocational manuals to literature and self-help titles.

Each package represents more than a book; it’s a message of dignity and belief in a person’s capacity to grow. As Books to Prisons describes, these small acts of literacy advocacy can bridge the isolation of incarceration and prepare individuals for reentry through continued learning.

A Smart Investment in Safer Communities

The economic argument is just as compelling as the moral one. Studies show that every dollar spent on prison education—including library services—can yield up to five dollars in cost savings through reduced recidivism and reincarceration rates.

ALA’s report urges policymakers, advocates, and philanthropists to:

• Support federal investment through measures such as the Prison Libraries Act of 2023.
  
  
• Collect better data on the reach and impact of prison library programs.
  
  
• Increase public awareness of how literacy and access support successful reentry.
  
  

When we invest in prison libraries, we invest in public safety, economic stability, and community well-being.

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Looking Ahead

Every library tells a story. For millions of incarcerated people, that story begins with a single book and the chance to imagine a different ending. The next chapter—one of reentry, education, and community connection—depends on whether we choose to keep those doors open.

How You Can Help

This Prison Banned Books Week, EveryLibrary calls on readers, advocates, and policymakers to defend the right to read behind bars. Support programs like Books to Prisons, volunteer locally, or take action with EveryLibrary to champion legislation that protects equitable access to books and library services in correctional facilities.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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