Academic libraries are essential partners in advancing quality postsecondary education in prison, offering both access to resources and the skills needed to use them. This Community Conversation will showcase two brief presentations on different modes of library engagement, with time at the end for a Q&A with attendees.

The first presentation will go through the evolution of library services for the Second Chance prison education programs run through Campbell University. It will cover a variety of methods used to get research to students and teach information literacy skills including correspondence, implementation of course-limited digital resources, library instruction, and point-of-contact reference assistance.

The second presentation will focus on Northwestern University and the NPEP Library, which has become a hub for student-driven research. Access to vital secondary and primary source materials have enabled NPEP students to pursue original projects, strengthen their academic writing, and share their work with wider audiences.

Presenters:

• Abigail Pore - Abigail Pore is the Reference & Distance Learning Librarian at Campbell University. As the Distance Learning Librarian, she serves two education programs hosted in correctional institutions in service of Campbell's Second Chance Initiative.
• Josh Honn - Josh Honn is an academic librarian, writer, and photographer living in Chicago. He works as Digital Humanities Librarian at Northwestern University where he collaborates with faculty and students on a range of digital and web-based research and pedagogy projects.

Together, these presentations illustrate how academic librarians can empower students and collaborate with faculty to create meaningful and lasting educational opportunities in carceral contexts.