Literature and libraries – forces of social good

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

What happens when a good book or the welcoming halls of the library are made available to people on the margins? Two recent stories outline what’s possible.

The Globe and Mail’s Kate Taylor has written about the work of Book Clubs for Inmates, a charity that runs 17 book clubs in 14 penitentiaries across Canada, detailing how participation in a monthly book discussion has helped inmates learn more about themselves through engagement in thoughtful conversation.

And CBC Edmonton recently highlighted the Edmonton Public Library’s social outreach work with patrons, including help with access to housing and the job market and, in particular, how this work benefited one man who came to the library to seeking shelter and solace.