Building an Empowerment Library for Incarcerated Individuals

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

In 2023, Queen Anne’s County (MD) Library received an LSTA grant which provided funds to create an empowerment library for the county’s detention center. Over the course of the twelve-month grant cycle, library staff worked in tandem with the head of the detention center’s library to build a collection that reflected the needs and interests of the incarcerated individuals. The project was also used to share information on library services available to the incarcerated individuals upon their reentry into the community. In this on-demand webinar, learn how the relationship between the two organizations was developed, how funding was secured, and how the collection was built to reflect the needs of the incarcerated individuals. The result shows how a dedicated staff with minimum funds could make a big difference in the lives of the incarcerated individuals. 

Recorded live on May 7, 2025.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• State the importance of offering library services to incarcerated individuals in their community;
• Identify reasons why building a good working relationship with a local detention center can benefit an underserved population of their community; and
• Develop strategies for information sharing and for building a collection that reflects the needs of the incarcerated individuals.

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar is intended for all public library staff.

Panelists

Nanna Bailey (she/her) is a public services associate at the Queen Anne’s County Library in Maryland. She has a Master’s Degree in English Business Communication and European Studies from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. Nanna has workedat the library for four years in many different areas of library work, including on the grant funded empowerment library project. She is a member of the Maryland Library Association’s Emerging Adult Interest Group. Nanna grew up in Denmark, but after studying in Ireland and meeting her American husband, she ended up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore which has been her home for the last fifteen years. In her free time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and spending time with her husband, two children, and small dog.

Kristin Green (she/her) is the technical services manager for the Queen Anne’s County Library in Maryland. She has a Master’s Degree in Library Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons College in Boston, MA. For nearly eighteen years, Kristin has worked as a librarian at the Queen Anne’s County Library, covering a broad range of tasks from collection development, programming, cataloging, and helping to serve the public. One of her most fulfilling library career experiences was to manage the collection development portion of the grant funded empowerment library project. When not making book selections, Kristin can be found spending time with her husband and two children, sewing historical clothing, and singing.

Important Registration Information

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Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).