A key element of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s most recent Strategic Plan is to connect our residents to library programs and experiences beyond library walls. While expanding our service footprint is already underway through various outreach efforts, we are always looking for new communities to serve, especially those communities facing barriers to library service and information resources. When we learned that 3,000 inmates at the Allegheny County Jail did not have access to a library or to the information resources needed to successfully reintegrate back to society, we decided that this was an underserved audience that the library had to engage. After consulting with correctional staff, we developed a menu of literacy-based programming we could deliver to both the inmates and their families. Not only did we set out to provide programming within the Jail, but we also wanted to forge connections between this population and their local libraries as well as other relevant resources in the community. We wanted to be sure that inmates were aware of relevant library services and to encourage them to visit libraries upon release. Finally, we saw this outreach project to the Jail as a learning opportunity for library staff, both to increase capacities and to understand some of the basic information needs of ex-inmates so that we could better serve this population within libraries.

Literacy Unlocked consists of varied programming designed to meet the unique needs of inmates and their families. In addition to programming on the cell block and in the family visiting area, we provide reference support and a deposit collection focusing on topics of personal finance and job skills. Literacy Unlocked also serves as a unique service model for CLP staff. With 40 staff participating from each of our 19 branches, this is a system-wide effort that is both lean and effective. Staff time commitment is spread across the system and all communications occur through an internal blog, requiring no additional time spent on meetings. Programs are based on existing services and are therefore reusable and familiar to presenters. That said, the project does create opportunities for those staff who might not be as comfortable presenting to a group. Through Literacy Unlocked, they are able to develop these skills and build capacity that can then be brought back to enhance programming in their branch. Another unique aspect of the project is the extensive collaboration with outside partners. Not only are CLP staff delivering programming, but there are also interns from the University of Pittsburgh’s iSchool, and volunteers from both the non-profit and corporate community. Of course, the Jail has been the critical partner, providing access to inmates, programming space and audiovisual equipment.

We had several goals with Literacy Unlocked. We set out to improve job readiness and financial literacy. We wanted to promote library resources as a key service for ex-inmates returning to their community and for their children. We sought to promote literacy to low-literacy adults. Finally, we wanted to better understand the information needs of the formerly incarcerated and their children. While it still may be too early to determine whether we have achieved these goals, we have effectively created a new model of outreach for the library and we have reached a significant number of inmates and families. In one year, staff and volunteers have delivered 72 classes with a total of 1,130 participants. In the visiting area and during contact visits, staff have directly interacted with 223 children and 225 parents and caregivers. Qualitative data such as inmate and staff testimonials, engagement during classes, and seeing former inmates come to our libraries upon release demonstrate the success of the program. Another indication that this project has impact occurred when the Jail Oversight Committee awarded CLP $10,000 to continue the project into the next year. With this funding, we will begin to track participants more extensively, measuring completion of our curriculum, change in behavior and skills gained. We will also experiment with a fine forgiveness program for those ex-inmates who participate in these post-release programs. With these elements in place, we will continue to support the information needs of inmates and provide the necessary literacies for long term success.