Supporting Communities Impacted by Incarceration Through Library Services

Register for this webinar!

Explore how public libraries can support individuals and families impacted by incarceration.

Public libraries are often on the frontlines of serving communities impacted by incarceration, with many patrons facing the challenges of trauma, stigma, and reintegration. This webinar will explore how libraries can effectively support individuals and families affected by incarceration—whether through outreach to local jails or providing services to those re-entering society. 

Learn about successful initiatives, funding opportunities, and service models that address the lasting impacts of incarceration. Gain strategies and resources to enhance your library’s role in creating supportive, inclusive services and spaces to help build stronger, safer communities for all.

Presented by:

• Chelsea Jordan-Makely, Library Director and Consultant, Griswold Memorial Library and Renewed Libraries, LLC
• Sarah Hertel-Fernandez, Library Director, Belding Memorial Library
• Aaron Blumberg, Librarian and Justice-Impacted Advocate and Consultant

Related resources and links

• Libraries and Incarceration: Resources for Librarians (ALA LibGuide)
• ALA's new new Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained
• ALA group: Library Services to the Justice-Involved (LSJI)
• Expanding Information Access for Incarcerated People grant project, a collaboration between San Francisco Public Library and the American Library Association.
• IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners
• Library services and incarceration: Recognizing barriers, strengthening access by Jeanie Austin, foreword by Kathleen de la Peña McCook

This webinar is presented by WebJunction.