Book Club for Youth in Care and Custody of the State

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In the Fall of 2012, Salt Lake County Library Services proposed a partnership with Utah Division of Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) that would promote literacy among youth in care and/or custody of the State of Utah Department of Human Services. Recognizing a gap in services – specifically access to library programs for youth in care and custody, and a need to improve literacy rates, Senior Librarian Carrie Rogers-Whitehead proposed a book club for JJS-involved youth involved in Salt Lake County. In Winter of 2013, book club was piloted in the JJS Observation and Assessment program; by the end of that year, two additional book clubs began. JJS administration quickly saw the value of the program – finding it to be a great tool for improving literacy; an opportunity to connect youth with a safe place in the community; and it proved to be a therapeutic tool for youth. Initial observations resulted in requests for additional book clubs throughout JJS. Two years after implementation, five sites were actively participating in the program. Utah State Office of Education granted funding to purchase graphic novels for the facilities and to provide stipends to professionals who present to youth involved in book club.