Address: 6905 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646 | Telephone: 301/932-3100
Services are Available Only to Detention Center Clients.
The Charles County Public Library has entered into a new partnership with the Charles County Detention Center to open a fully operational library within the Detention Center to serve incarcerated individuals. Charles County Detention Center Library operates as a branch of the Charles County Public Library system and offers free and equal access to services and resources to help the inmate population find the general and legal information they need to improve and enrich their lives and enable their successful re-entry into the community. A wide variety of reading materials are available, comprising a collection of fiction and nonfiction titles in paperback formats. Individuals at the Detention Center have access to library materials on a weekly basis and will be provided with educational workshop opportunities throughout the year, provided by Charles County Public Library staff. Additionally, these individuals are also provided a library card that they can utilize at any of our branches upon release, with the intention that through this service provided, they will feel welcome and empowered to utilize the library’s free resources to help enrich their lives as they navigate reentering society.
Detention Center Location Services
The Storybook Program
The Storybook Program is a program aimed at promoting early childhood literacy and fostering a connection between incarcerated individuals who have young children at home that they are separated from. During these programs, library staff will meet with incarcerated individuals while they record themselves reading a recordable children’s book that is provided by the library. After the book is recorded, library staff take the book and package it up with an accompanying stuffed animal and other library resource materials and place it in a Charles County Public Library branded tote bag. Library staff will coordinate with the families of the incarcerated individuals to pick up the storybook gift bag at the library. Once children receive their recorded books, they can open their new book and read along to a story while hearing their parents’ voices, at any time.
Skillready Workshops
Skillready Workshops are classes that take place at the Detention Center and are facilitated by CCPL staff. The focus of these workshops is to support digital literacy skills and workforce readiness for returning citizens. These programs are offered on a routine basis and cover topics like resume writing, digital literacy skills, how to utilize free database resources, and more.
How to support this project:
Our greatest need for this project at present is monetary support to assist with the cost of materials to carry out programs, such as the storybook program and skill ready workshops, as well as assist with the general costs associated with providing library services. Your donation would also ensure this portion of our community is served. Donations to this project would support this effort in the following ways:
At this time, we are not able to accept book donations for this project, as the steps to get materials processed in the system would cost us more than purchasing new materials. Additionally, due to the limited space, we have for library materials, we want to ensure the collection is reflective of the needs of the individuals being served and is carefully selected and curated by our Collection Development team. Additionally, due to security concerns, we are not seeking volunteers to assist with the library at the Detention Center, though there could be opportunities in the future.
Anyone who would like to support the Charles County Detention Center Library is encouraged to donate through our Web site. Additionally, anyone wanting to make a donation to support this project can also contact our Development Manager, Shannon Bland, at sbland[at]ccplonline[dot]org for more information.