St. Croix & St. Thomas BOOKMOBILE PRISON PILOT PROGRAMS LAUNCHED

 

The DPNR’s Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Bureau of Corrections and the Office of the Governor launched a pilot program which will include both islands, utilizing the St. Thomas and the St. Croix bookmobiles. The pilot, “Beyond the Walls thru a Bookmobile,” is a joint educational rehabilitation initiative and an effort to reduce recidivism.
 
                         
                              

St. Thomas Daily News- prison bookmobile article

The pilot project began in March on St. Thomas, when the STT bookmobile made its first visit to the Alva Swan Corrections Annex. In attendance at that ceremony were the Attorney General, Vincent Frazier, Ingrid Bough, Territorial Director of Libraries, Archives & Museums,  Donald G. Cole, Asst. Director of DLAM, Julius Wilson, Director of BOC, Everette Hansen, BOC Warden, and BOC Chief Rosaline Titley, along with OG Assistant Legal Counsel, Karen McDowell.

 

On  St. Croix , the bookmobile made its debut to the Golden Grove Correctional facility during National Library Week. In attendance  were the Honorable Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., Ingrid Bough, Territorial Director of Libraries,  Julius Wilson, Director of the Bureau of Corrections (BOC), Keith Francois, BOC Warden, Sonia Liburd, BOC Programs Director, and Mark Sylvester, BOC Prison Librarian.  Special visitor from Washington D.C. was Dr. John Y. Cole, Director of the Center for the Book, Library of Congress who toured all of the VI public libraries on the three islands during the week.  

 

“Over 2 million prisoners are housed in U.S. state prisons, federal prisons, and detention centers. At some point, 95% of state prisoners will return to the community, thus, becoming part of approximately 5 million adult men and women probationers or parolees integrated into society. Similar to the National statistics, most of the individuals that commit crime in the Territory will return into the community,” Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said Tuesday. 
 

In view of the importance of education and other critical services for a successful re-entry, it is important to provide educational avenues and resources for inmates as they prepare to return to society. Prison libraries and the utilization of bookmobiles that visit prisons are such examples of important contributions to this special population. Many potential explosive situations can be deterred by using library resources to combat idleness and boredom. The national American Library Association (ALA) has encouraged libraries nationwide to serve this population with “Behind the Walls @ Your Library” initiatives through its Office of Literacy and Outreach Services.    

According to the Governor, the St. Croix and St. Thomas bookmobiles will introduce the inmate participants to the vast library resources that are available, which would encourage and promote reading, literacy, self-help and lifelong learning. “The inmates will also receive library cards, an orientation of the bookmobile services, and will be able to check out books. Pending the pilot’s success, bookmobile service will continue to the prisons on both islands."