Incarcerated parents can read books to their kids through new library program The program lets parents record videos of them reading aloud to give to their children

Books on table with chalkboard background in the school Books on table with chalkboard background in the school Photo: Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images Photo: Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images Image 1 of / 146 Caption Close Incarcerated parents can read books to their kids through new library program 1 / 146 Back to Gallery

Incarcerated parents are often just looking for ways to be positive influences in their children's lives, said Deborah Sandler and Lauren Mayer, two children's services librarians with The Seattle Public Library. Parents are looking to overcome many barriers they may face as their kids grow up while they're not there.

Sandler and Mayer are hoping to help incarcerated parents connect with their children through a new joint program, called "Read to Me!" between The Seattle Public Library, the King County Department of Public Defense and the King County Correctional Facility. The program, which started earlier this year, gives incarcerated parents the chance to create a video of themselves reading a book out loud to be sent to their children to watch and keep.

Parents can participate if they have kids ages 7 or younger. It's another opportunity to communicate with their children when they're not able to see them or talk to them in person. Mayer and Sandler said they hope the program serves as a reminder to children of how much their parents love and care about them.

"[Parents] have taken every opportunity to make sure they're getting that message of love across to their children," Sandler said. "They all say it in their messages. I'm hoping that impact gets across to the children."

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The program involves a three-night workshop for parents. They must volunteer to be involved and be approved.

Mayer and Sandler, who lead the workshop, said the beginning includes getting to know the parents involved, learning more about their kids and seeing how comfortable they are reading aloud to their children. In the two groups that have been lead so far, some of the parents have been very comfortable reading aloud, while others have been shyer. Sandler said in their last group, one of the fathers had never read out loud to his child before because his baby was born while he was incarcerated.

The three session class also involves a literacy workshop, where parents learn more about the importance of reading aloud to children and discuss the other building blocks of literacy.

As part of the workshop, The Seattle Public Library brings in a wide array of books of varying lengths to the facility for incarcerated parents to choose from. Then, parents are given time to look at the book options they have and choose one they connect with.

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The other nights of the workshop involve finalizing parents' book selections, practicing reading the book out loud with each other and coming up with a plan for the recording. Mayer said they will talk to parents about what they can say to introduce the book and make it personal.

When it's time for the recording, parents read in front of a blue backdrop with clouds that the library brings, and create the video.

The final recording is packaged with a copy of the book the parents have read. Inside the book, parents write a note for their children. The package also includes another book called Far Apart, Close in Heart: Being a Family When a Loved One Is Incarcerated, which addresses the emotions of children with incarcerated parents.

Throughout the process, Sandler and Mayer will do check-ins with the parents involved to see how they are feeling and give them space to talk.

"It is a very emotional situation, the parents miss their kids terribly so we really just try to go at their pace," Mayer said.

She noted this is the program's pilot year, so they are working through any issues they may come across and taking feedback from the parents to make sure the program best serves them. So far, there have been two groups of parents that have participated in the program -- one group of dads and one group of moms. Next week, Sandler and Mayer will work with a third group.

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The two also said they've received very positive feedback from parents so far -- many of whom have said they'd like to participate in the program again. Sandler said a goal of the program is to help keep incarcerated parents connected to their children. They want to make the program more consistent in the future so parents can create multiple recordings.

The best part of the program, she said, is being able to work with the parents, but it is also challenging.

"There's an emotional challenge in terms of working with parents who are in trauma," she said, "and who just want to do everything they can, as every parent does, for their children."

Sandler and Mayer said they've also heard that children have reacted positively to the recordings. Mayer said she imagines it's "impactful" for kids to be able to see their parent and watch a video where the parent is saying their child's name, asking questions and making connections while reading a book.

The program, which comes after a listening project at the library to best serve the community, is based off a similar program conducted by New York Public Library at Rikers Island.

The Seattle Public Library has been working to implement more programs to help serve people who are currently or formerly incarcerated, including bringing books to the correctional facility. The library also plans to start helping to sign people up for library cards while incarcerated so they can access services immediately when they are released.

"There are so many barriers to housing and employment and services when getting out of jail, we just want to try to help people," said Valerie Wonder, community engagement manager at The Seattle Public Library.

Mayer said going forward, she's excited to keep learning and improving the program.

"We've got awesome partners so it's great learning," she said, "and I feel like after this pilot year and after listening to the parents that we're interacting with, we'll see some new directions."