​Youth held at juvenile detention centers (JDC) are a special population with complex information needs. On any given day, close to 92,000 youth are detained in the U.S. (Sweeney, 2012). About two thirds of those detained are youth of color. (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2007). LGBT youth and youth with disabilities are also disproportionately represented in juvenile corrections (Hunt, 2012). Many of these youth are reading significantly below their grade level (OJJDP, 2008). Most juvenile offenders who exit detention facilities after the age of 16 do not return to any formal school program (Vacca, 2008). 



Research has shown that well-developed libraries are  important in restorative justice practices (Gilman, 2008). Robust library services can significantly improve the lives of residents and positively influence how they relate to the community upon release. Unfortunately, many youth in detention receive sub-par to no library services. This website provides resources to anyone who is interested in providing library services to these underserved youth.