Expanding Library Service in Jails and Prisons Through Hip Hop, Meditation, and Creativity

Queens Public Library expanded its library service in two local correctional facilities: the Queensboro Correctional Facility prison and the Rikers Island jail complex. Our expanded programming included creatively oriented programming, which was broadly concentrated on three themes: our Creative Outlet series, hip hop and other musical programming, and literacy, meditation, and mindfulness programming. These types of programs can create goodwill toward the library by: offering effective programming; generating trust between the library and the facility; and providing opportunities for presenters. After discussing the specifics of this programming, this chapter provides tips for a library to create their own expanded services in a correctional facility and then presents the participant, staff, and presenter responses to Queens Public Library’s expanded programming.