As a software developer at The New York Public Library, I work on digital applications ranging from showcasing curated staff recommendations on Staff Picks and exploring new item acquisitions on New Arrivals to displaying what the Library has to offer on the homepage. Although working behind a desk and writing code is enjoyable, I wanted to reach out of my comfort zone and find ways to help patrons in person. I then discovered the Library’s Correctional Services department and the opportunity to volunteer in the mobile library at one of five city jails. I’ve been volunteering once a month, for the past 6 months, at Rikers Islands and found how much this service means for patrons looking for a bit of freedom from daily life.

Rikers Island is a correctional facility that holds people accused of a crime and waiting for a trial, people sentenced to one year or less of jail time, or people convicted of a crime and awaiting sentencing. This is why my group leader, Louise Stamp, mentioned that I may not see the same people in the houses (cell blocks) in the future, or why sometimes books go missing. The day-to-day life of a person is managed by the Department of Corrections and they may end up being released, sentenced and moved upstate, or moved to a different house within the facility. Providing a mobile library service is just a small part of a patron’s week, but with the surrounding chaos, it means escaping into stories.

I wasn’t sure what to expect on my first visit to Rikers last August. Even though our group follows a specific workflow, we are on the Department of Correction’s premise, and anything can happen. After taking public transportation, going through a series of check-ins, and being transported to the George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) building—another long process in itself—our volunteer group entered the library room, a small room filled with books and three carts ready to be wheeled through the halls of the GRVC building.

Our visits begin by letting the patrons know that the Library is on premise and introducing ourselves to old and new patrons. Patrons then return items they have taken out the previous week and, three at a time, they come out of their cell block seeking a new item. They are offered any two items, or four comics, as well as the daily newspaper that the volunteers happen to bring in—we make sure to also bring in Spanish newspapers for Spanish-speaking patrons.

Each cart holds different genres; my designated cart has comics and magazines, items I’ve come to better appreciate. As a runner, technologist, and explorer, I tend to limit my magazines to Runner’s World, National Geographic, and Wired, to name a few, but as I help patrons at Rikers explore and search for articles and magazines, I learned more about other topics. I go through the items available to get a better sense of what I can provide to the patrons, so when asked for a title or a topic, I can help out more quickly and efficiently. As an avid comic book reader, I’m well versed in super-heroes and storylines. I get at least one patron during every visit who is surprised by my knowledge of a superhero, so much so that we end up briefly discussing storylines or how and why a superhero managed to overcome their adversity. A patron and I once debated who is the better Spider-man: Peter Parker, a character with a sense of humor but also a strong sense of responsibility to uphold justice, or Miles Morales, a teenager of Black/Hispanic descent dealing with moral issues due to his upbringing. Whenever I recommend a book to a patron, I seldom get conversations regarding the item, so being able to have conversations with patrons at Rikers was not something I initially expected but have come to appreciate.

There have been occasions where patrons open up and tell me personal anecdotes regarding items they are interested in checking out. One patron approached me looking for comics. While searching he asked me if I spoke Spanish. After I told him that I did, he got excited and began to tell me how he has been drawing for years. The patron told me that he uses the characters from the comics as inspiration to draw his own characters; he even has some of his art tattooed on his body. Another Spanish-speaking patron shyly asked if there were books in Spanish. As a Spanish speaker I helped locate the section he was looking and then we went through the available items. The section of Spanish books is small, but he appreciated that there was one and that he could read in his native language.

Though the Library provides a service that is a seemingly small part of the patron's week, it means a lot to them. As the patrons move from one area to another through the halls, they see our group and the carts of books and noticeably get excited. They either ask us if we will visit their area later in the day, or ask their officer if they can go back to their area so they can check out an item. Sometimes they skip out on an activity and stay in their house to wait for the mobile library. Unfortunately, items in the mobile library get circulated quickly and they end up seeing the same titles continuously. We encourage donations and volunteers to promote reading and helping all patrons educate and better themselves.

The Library also offers Connections, a guide containing resources for formerly incarcerated individuals. Find out more about Correctional Services and other services the Library provides.