Bay Area Librarians Bring Information to Inmates, One Letter at a Time
When inmates don’t have access to the internet but would like some information, they might turn to the San Francisco Public Library and its department of Jail and Reentry Services.
According to this article on KTVU (SF’s Fox affiliate), the library receives between 300 and 400 handwritten letters per month, and their contents include requests for song lyrics and pop culture info as well as questions about “daily life.” That’s because "One of the main things [the department] is used for is reentry planning," according to Rachel Kinnon, manager of the Jail and Reentry Services. "People are writing with questions about anything that would help them settle in the area where they are being released and start a life there."
This is a great piece in particular because it dives in to how “information is a human right.” Kinnon trains her interns from San Jose State University well: They are encouraged to go half a day without access to technology in order to understand that connection that so many of us are reliant on. "We all have the right to know true and accurate information so that we can make good decisions and take good care of ourselves," Kinnon said. "I hope that people who hear about this program will think about what it is to be cut off from information and what that can do to your relationships, self-image, and future planning."
Testimonies from patrons (yes, that’s what they are called…because they are!) remain somewhat private, but read this one and try to convince me this program isn’t needed: "Dear Public Library, I received your art print-outs on April 22. I was so surprised and amazed that the arts you sent were that beautiful. For the very first time in almost two decades that I ever own something so beautiful like that.”
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