The New Jersey Prison Libraries Act establishes a special, non-lapsing fund known as the Prison Libraries Fund within the Department of Corrections, aimed at providing library materials, programs, resources, and services to incarcerated individuals. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support this initiative and outlines specific uses for the fund, including hiring librarians, expanding library infrastructure, and acquiring modern materials and technology. Additionally, the fund can be utilized for various educational and cultural programs, such as job training, civic engagement, and artistic programming.

The bill explicitly prohibits the use of the fund for unrelated expenses, such as food, clothing, medical care, or general administrative functions of the prison. It also allows the Department of Corrections to accept gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources to further support the library initiatives, with the stipulation that any received funds must be deposited into the Prison Libraries Fund. This legislation aims to enhance the educational and rehabilitative resources available to incarcerated individuals, promoting literacy and personal development.