PRINTER'S NO. 343
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 36
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY POWELL, KHAN, WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL,
DONAHUE, SCHLOSSBERG, FREEMAN AND GREEN, JANUARY 28, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 28, 2025
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
2 study on the quality of carceral libraries in this
3 Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, Education is a human right for which each individual
5 is entitled, regardless of the individual's age, gender or
6 background; and
7 WHEREAS, The right of an incarcerated or detained individual
8 to access education, including the use of library services, is
9 frequently overlooked or disregarded; and
10 WHEREAS, The purpose of imprisonment should not be to punish,
11 but to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals into their
12 communities; and
13 WHEREAS, Access to library resources directly supports the
14 provision of certain skills and knowledge to allow incarcerated
15 or detained individuals to reenter society successfully; and
16 WHEREAS, Prison libraries assist incarcerated or detained
17 individuals in obtaining educational qualifications, career and
18 vocational training, communication skills and legal knowledge;
 1 and
2 WHEREAS, Offering library services to incarcerated or
3 detained individuals promotes independence, encourages self-
4 directed learning and allows them to engage with the world
5 around them in a positive way; and
6 WHEREAS, The Department of Corrections provides incarcerated
7 or detained individuals with library services through multiple
8 internal policies; and
9 WHEREAS, No study has been conducted to identify the
10 strengths and weaknesses of the current library policies
11 implemented by the Department of Corrections; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
13 State Government Commission to conduct a study on the quality of
14 carceral libraries in this Commonwealth; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission provide
16 policy recommendations to the House of Representatives to
17 improve upon any inadequacies found during the course of the
18 survey; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That in conducting the survey, the Joint State
20 Government Commission include, at a minimum, the following:
21 (1) Questions regarding the adequacy of book and media
22 collections, including questions regarding the following:
23 (i) Whether an incarcerated or detained individual
24 feels that the individual has access to a variety of
25 materials to meet the individual's needs.
26 (ii) Which materials an incarcerated or detained
27 individual accesses the most.
28 (2) Questions regarding the provision of user services
29 and technical services, including questions regarding the
30 following:
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 1 (i) Whether an incarcerated or detained individual
2 is provided with an orientation on library use.
3 (ii) Whether the library resources offered properly
4 prepare an incarcerated or detained individual for
5 navigating life postincarceration.
6 (3) Questions regarding the number of books or other
7 media held per incarcerated or detained individual, including
8 questions regarding the following:
9 (i) Which types of books are being held.
10 (ii) The duration of time when the books are being
11 held.
12 (4) Questions regarding accessibility, including
13 questions regarding the following:
14 (i) Whether an incarcerated or detained individual
15 finds the library resources appropriately priced.
16 (ii) Whether an incarcerated or detained individual
17 feels that the individual has an appropriate amount of
18 time allotted for library use;
19 and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit a
21 report of its findings and recommendations to the House of
22 Representatives no later than one year from the adoption of this
23 resolution.
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