Prison libraries play a crucial role in educating those who are incarcerated and helping them prepare for life in reentry. And new legislation, if passed, could serve to increase the impact of these libraries.
In late July, Representatives Rick Larsen (WA) and Representative Emanuel Cleaver (MO) introduced the Read for Reentry Act of 2026 (HR9986). This legislation would authorize a study into state and federal prison libraries in the United States to better understand and further their role in reducing recidivism.
“For years, I’ve said that a prison sentence should not be a life sentence to hopelessness. Libraries give incarcerated individuals access to education, job skills, legal resources and the opportunity to grow.” Cleaver said. “That’s good for the individual, good for public safety and good for our communities. Yet we still lack a clear understanding of how prison libraries operate across the country. Better data will help us strengthen these programs, identify best practices and ensure more people have access to the tools they need to successfully reenter society. And that’s exactly why I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill.”
The Read for Reentry Act would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a study into state and federal prison libraries in the U.S. The findings will help strengthen prison library programs, identify best practices, and better understand their impact on recidivism and successful reentry.
Purpose of the study
Specifically, the study would identify:
- Sources of funding for state and federal prison libraries.
- Demographic characteristics of prisons that provide library services.
- Recidivism and parole compliance rates among prisons that provide library services.
- Rates of disciplinary infractions in prisons that provide library services.
If enacted, the study could help determine whether libraries deliver the benefits described in Investing in Prison Libraries: A Cost-Effective Path to Safer Communities and Second Chances, a report released last year by the American Library Association.
The report argues that prison libraries can play an important role in lowering recidivism by better preparing those who are incarcerated for their release. It also explains why further investments in these libraries are essential to reducing the social and economic impacts of incarceration.
Confirming the value of prison libaries
The ALA report confirms the value and necessity of prison libraries by citing examples, including the fact that:
- A RAND study found that for every dollar spent on prison education saves approximately $5 in future incarceration costs.
- 68% of people incarcerated in state prisons don’t have a high school diploma.
- Most people who are incarcerated face an extreme barrier to information access. They also lack access to computers and other forms of basic information technology.
- These libraries often support educational programs, including GED and college degree classes, as well as offering resources to help students learn everything from computer programming to blue-collar skills.
- About 85% of youth in the juvenile justice system struggle with reading.
Many existing prison libraries also have significant shortcomings:
- According to a 2010 study (the most recent available), one-third of the state prison libraries across the U.S. had no dedicated library staff.
- In some facilities a “library” consists of little more than small collections of books on a few shelves.
Separately, The Prison Libraries Act of 2026 (HR7247) was introduced in January. This bill, which now has 47 bipartisan sponsors, would establish grants for states and U.S. territories to establish prison libraries. According to the legislation, the grants would support library services that “advance reintegration, reduce recidivism and expand educational opportunities” for individuals who are incarcerated.
