Something's Missing: The Need for Library Involvement in Prison Literacy Programs

To register for this webinar please follow this link:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2717547676403/WN_ABwZ25pYRAWDCntVaP2DpA. Sessions are free and available only to members of the Michigan library community. Registrants will receive instructions and a link to attend the session directly from PCI after they register.

Incarceration in the United States affects all members of society whether directly or indirectly. Prison libraries, like their public counterparts, are uniquely positioned to provide a safe environment for individuals to access the resources needed to enhance their knowledge and skills to further their education to prepare for their future.

Statistically, those who are incarcerated have much lower literacy rates than those who are not incarcerated. Frequently, libraries are left out of the equation when implementing literacy programs in carceral environments. Prison libraries, partnering with other library types, can be the catalyst to increasing literacy in preparation for further education and successful reintegration post-incarceration.

This webinar will provide insights into prison literacy programs, offer ideas of how libraries can and should take the lead in improving their incarcerated patrons’ literacy skills, and challenge participants to take part in creating or enhancing literacy programs with library support.

Attendees will be able to:

Create a plan to start a literacy program within their organization.

Identify and create partnerships with outside organizations for programming.

Identify impactful resources, data, and support for literacy programs in carceral facilities

Instructor: Aaron Blumberg is a degree-holding librarian and Justice-impacted advocate, consultant, and trainer. He advocates for the rights of the incarcerated and other marginalized groups, specifically uncensored access to information and the need for digital literacy. Aaron was a member of the working group which updated the American Library Association’s “Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained” and has served as an advisor and consultant on IMLS grant-funded projects.

His current research and advocacy endeavors include prison literacy programs; access and accessibility; partnerships between carceral, public, and academic libraries; and breaking down barriers to education during and after incarceration.

He has presented webinars on topics such as censorship in prisons, advocating for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated populations, and library services to the incarcerated for the American Library Association, Ithaka S+R, OCLC, and the California Library Association. Most recently, Aaron co-presented two sessions at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference on related topics.

PCI Webinars are recorded and available to members of the Michigan library community in the Library of Michigan's Niche Staff Skills Academy about a week after they air. New webinars will be in the New category for several weeks. You do not need to register for a webinar in order to view it later in the Staff Skills Academy.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.