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The term prison library refers to libraries that provide educational, legal, recreational and other resources in correctional facilities throughout the globe. While their services are primarily oriented toward inmates, they may also serve other members of the prison community, such as the inmates' families and prison staff. Key differences that set a prison library apart from other types of library, such as public or academic, include the level of access to qualified library staff, skills required as a prison library worker, the level of censorship, reduced privacy, limited or no internet access and the goals of collections and library programming. The quality and nature of a prison library can vary based on the country, state, city, and individual institution. Prison libraries are often managed by a trained librarian, educator, clergy or prison personnel, but in some cases a single librarian may oversee the libraries of multiple institutions at once. Inmates may also work in prison libraries.
In the United States, reading materials are provided in almost all federal and state correctional facilities. Libraries in federal prisons are controlled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice. State prison libraries are controlled by each state's own department of corrections. Many local jails also provide library services through partnerships with local public libraries and community organizations. These resources may be limited, mostly provided through government sources.
Research shows a correlation between education and reduced recidivism, and libraries play an important role in supporting education.Marshall, A. M. J. (2011). Library services in correctional settings. Information Outlook, 15(1), p. 24–26 Many currently active prison libraries offer education through reading materials and literacy programs such as Hydebank Library where currently incarcerated people can practice reading aloud in the library, interact with one another through programming, and work on creative projects. In other correctional institutions, prisoners are sentenced to a literature discussion group in lieu of prison time. One such program called Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL) has been operating since 1991. The first CLTL group in Massachusetts had a 19 percent recidivism rate as compared to 42 percent in a control group.Sussman, D. B. (2014). Reading Reduces Recidivism: Getting Books to Prison Libraries. ILA Reporter, 32(6), p. 7 Education allows inmates to obtain the skills they need to transition back into society once they are released, and libraries can play in an important role in helping inmates learn these skills. Some programs prison libraries offer include, GED instruction, literacy classes, life skills classes, typing instruction, and classes on how to use a library.Bookmobile Outreach Services, 10(2), p. 43–61.
In addition to educational opportunities, through various literacy skills programming and activities, prison libraries can play a role in building family relationships. For example, the Jessup Correctional Institute in Maryland started a program that provided books for prisoners to read to their children or grandchildren on visiting days.NPR. (2011). Prison library offers place to escape. Other prison libraries have programs in which prisoners record reading stories, and the tapes and books, along with a coloring book and crayons, are sent to their child.(Greenway, p. 54) Some inmates try to read the same materials their children are reading, so they have something to talk about with them.
Prison libraries provide a space for inmates to meet with others with common interests. Prison libraries' physical spaces can also provide comfort and support the mental wellbeing of currently incarcerated people. Though funding is limited, some prison librarians are diligent in providing programming. Such programs include book clubs and community service projects. Many inmates utilize the library as a means of escape from the reality of their current situations. One of the many services provided by a prison librarian is to have conversation with the inmates regarding the reasons they are in their current situation, after which, the librarian will make catalog suggestions to the inmate that will give them guidance in future decision making.
A challenge in the development of prison libraries in the US came about in the Steven Hayes case, where library collection policies, and patron (prisoner) privacy came into question. It was suspected that Hayes' reading choices in his former prison "fueled his crimes". The prosecutors in his case wanted to see Hayes' reading lists after he was convicted of the murder, kidnapping and sexual assault of members of the Petit family. This issue is contentious because according to normal library policies, patron privacy is a very serious matter, and the question of whether it changes within a prison library was highly debated. Conrad does not mention that any real rulings and/or concrete decisions have been reached as there are strong arguments both for maintaining prisoners' privacy, as with any other patron, and there are arguments for that information to be made available to ensure that there is no danger to the prisoner, prison population or general public.
Censorship is another major challenge reported by prison libraries. The Federal Bureau of Prisons regulations state that publications can only be rejected if they are found to be "detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or if it might facilitate criminal activity." However, prisons censor materials far beyond these guidelines. Restrictions on the content of materials in prison libraries are imposed by prison authorities such as wardens, administrators, and security personnel, resulting in the infringement on prisoners' right to read. "Both formal and informal processes of censorship occur in the prison, and there is significant variation in which materials are censored from one institution to the next." Typical topics that are censored include works mentioning violence, pornography, hate against a particular group crime, or instructions on how to commit crimes. Arguments against this kind of censorship include the observation that violence is present in most media, including the news. Conrad points out that while there are valid security concerns, like other libraries, prison libraries can protect intellectual freedom by building and maintaining appropriate collections development policies.
In another example of the conflict between safety and free access to information, many prisons only offer limited internet access to inmates or none at all. In lieu of direct internet access, inmates may be able to access resources such as educational videos, documents, and materials needed for remote classes using offline tools and databases or an internal network/prison intranet. In some cases, library professionals may have access to the internet even if their patrons do not in order to keep loan records, search for catalog items, or send emails among other functions.
In 1870, during the Progressive Period and Prison reform, the Prison Congress began calling for rehabilitation of convicts instead of retribution, and education and rewards for good behaviour. The library was seen as an incentive and only contained items which furthered the reformative goals of the prison. The first manual for prison libraries was published by the American Library Association in 1915.
During the Great Depression prison libraries were expanded. With a decline in industrial demands prisoners became idle and restless and libraries were seen as a way to occupy them. In 1930, a manual for prison libraries was published by the American Correctional Association. The library was believed to be wholesome recreation, which also supported education and mental health, and there was great growth in federal prison libraries for the next four decades.
State correctional facilities began to see growth in prison libraries in the 1970s when the Library Services and Construction Act was authorized by Congress. In 1974, two Massachusetts cases – Wolf v. McDonnell and Stone v. Boone – mandated that prisons provide on-site libraries, which paved the way for Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817 (1977). (2026). 9780313090615, Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 9780313090615 Bounds v. Smith ruled that prisons were required to provide access to people trained in law or law library collections in order to meet the constitutional requirement of meaningful access to the courts. In 1996, Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343 (1996), limited the requirement placed on correctional facilities. Following Lewis many libraries reduced their collections.
Lewis v. Casey ruled that prisoners do not have an absolute right to a law library. Rather an inmate must show that he was unable to pursue a legal claim because of the inadequacy of the law library.Gerken, J. L. (2003). Does Lewis v. Casey spell the end to court-ordered improvement of prison law libraries? Law Library Journal, 95(4), p. 491–513. In other words, lack of an adequate law library caused the inmate actual injury. The ruling in Lewis makes it much more difficult to seek improvement to a prison's law library. As one court pointed out, the ability to litigate a claim of denial of access demonstrates that the inmate has no denial of access.(Gerken, p. 500) However, some believe that Lewis is not as devastating as it appears to be and Bounds v. Smith still remains good law. Post-9/11, prison library budgets were slashed. (2026). 9780810867437, Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810867437
As of 2013 the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba has a library of some 18,000 books. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 1,505,400 Federal and State prisoners in the United States. The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world.McCook, K. (2004). Public Libraries and People in Jail. Reference and User Services Quarterly, 44(1), 26–30
Librarians seeking to bring attention to books and voices that have been in the margins—living in poverty, on the streets, in custody—and that addresses the disproportionality of injustices experienced by BIPOC youth, honor these books with the annual "In the Margins Award." In the Margins
However, progress has been made on publishing standards, and most institutional libraries have a procedures manual.(Ings & Joslin, p. 403) In addition, they have been able to establish a Regional Multi-Lingual Collection and a Regional Aboriginal Collection, in response to the diversity of people within the prison system.(Ings & Joslin, p. 406) Finally, some progress has been made in getting library staff back and all new hires are required to be certified library technicians.
In Chile, prison libraries are managed by the Gendarmerie of Chile, which oversees the security of Chilean prisons and appoints prison library directors among other functions. In their 2014 report providing a snapshot of the state of prison libraries from 2010-2012, authors Piñones and Nuñez placed Chile's prison libraries into 3 ranked categories based on what body they report to in addition to the Gendarmerie, what kind of professional manages them, and the extent of the services they provide. At the highest level are the prison libraries linked to public libraries, which made up 12.1% of prison libraries at the time of the study. These are often found in larger urban areas, are managed by a trained librarian, report to the Directorate of Archives, Libraries and Museums (Dirección de Bibliotecas y Museos, DIBAM), and are the most likely to have audiovisual materials in addition to print collections. In the second category are Learning Resource Centers (Centros de Recursos de Aprendizaje, CRAs), which made up 30.8% of prison libraries, are led by an educator, and are overseen by the Ministry of Education. The third group, which the authors call "collections" refers to facilities that have an informal, non-library collection of books. These collections (19.8% of prison libraries) are overseen by prison administrators and a prisoner they select. The Gendarmerie provides funding for library workshops, but not collections or other library needs. Instead, each prison funds its own library or libraries. Books are often donated by non-profit and government organizations. As of 2018, Rivera Donoso reported that Chile had made funds available for cultural projects, which can include supporting prison libraries.
Common challenges for Chilean libraries include lack of adequate collections and infrastructure across all institutions. But, as a strength, 68.4% of Chilean prison libraries were managed by a trained professional as of 2014, whether this is a librarian or educator. Since then, Chile's public library system has aimed to increase these numbers.
"In order to introduce a larger audience to the institution libraries, the SPIP quickly took the initiative to develop a series of projects around books, literature, and writing."(Cramard, p. 555) Projects include regularly scheduled workshops, such as writing skills classes, reading groups, reading workshops, and storytelling workshops, and one-time events, such as meetings with writers and illustrators and writing workshops.(Cramard, p. 556-7) However, prison libraries are still a work-in-progress and the Prison Administration has declared that in 2008–2010 transforming prison libraries would be a priority.(Cramard, p. 558)
The prison administration is responsible for the operation of prison libraries, services are provided by the government or Volunteering groups, and professional aspects are monitored by the university and the Italian Library Association.(Costanzo & Montecchi, p. 514) A new interest by the central prison administration will hopefully lead to positive changes in the prison library system.(Costanzo & Montecchi, p. 513) However, according to Costanzo & Montecchi, Italy's prison libraries are still in need of a central organization for direction, monitoring, and standards.
Japanese law mandates that inmates have access to reading materials and there is much regulation as to what reading materials inmates may possess and inspection procedures.(Nakane, p. 448-9) However, the only mention of a "prison library" is a provision requiring that the warden make reading materials available.(Nakane, p. 449) There are also policies and procedures regulating these materials. Education staff, not librarians, manage these collections.(Nakane, p. 453)
In 1992 Library Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions was published. In 1999 the ALA additionally published a standard for detained youth. In 2024 Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained, a revision to the 1992 version, was published.American Library Association, American Library Association Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained Working Group, American Library Association Council Committee on Diversity, American Library Association Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, San Francisco Public Library Jail and Reentry Services, and Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. 2024. Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained. Edited by Erin Boyington, Randall Horton, Eldon Ray James, Sharaya Olmeda, and Victoria Van Hyning. 2024 revised edition. Chicago: American Library Association. In the revision the ALA states, "The new Standards will heed the current phenomenon of mass incarceration, the inequitable incarceration rates of BIPOC individuals, and the rising rates of incarceration of women (especially women of color) and pay special attention to the incarceration of LGBTQIA+ individuals, undocumented individuals, and youth in jails, prisons, and other detention facilities, as well as to the information needs of returning individuals". The rewrite of the standards is part of the Expanding Information Access for Incarcerated Peoples initiative. This initiative is in coordination between the ALA and the San Francisco Public Library's Jail and Reentry Services Program. The initiative and the new standards were made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The new standards extend support of intellectual freedom of incarcerated people to include access to digital access and literacy. The ALA stated that incarcerated people have a right to digital literacy skills training and that they should have access to digital services and materials at no cost, including digital legal databases and other legal resources.
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