Gaston County Public Library connects children with family members who are incarcerated through Send Home Story Program

Once a month, library staff from the Gaston County Public Library head to the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and Jail with children’s books and recording equipment for the Send Home Story Program. The initiative began in 2018 and was spearheaded by library assistant John Dondero. Facility residents who are separated from their children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews can have their voice recorded reading a book to them. The recordings are then uploaded, and a QR code is created to the recording. The QR code is attached to the book, and the book is mailed to the child by the library. When the child receives the book in the mail, they can follow along and listen to their loved one read it to them. Included with the book from the library are crafts and bookmarks, too.

“I have always been interested in separation issues for families where parents are locked away from their children,” said Dondero. “After doing some research and coming up with ideas of how to bridge that gap to keep families connected while they are separated, I came up with this program. I am a firm believer that kids separated from their parents is a strong cause for that cycle to repeat itself and continue.”

“It can be an emotional and vulnerable moment for the participants,” added Chelse Harris, a branch manager with Gaston County Public Library. “They share memories of their kids if they have had a birthday recently or were just born. The program is also an incentive to have good behavior, so they do not lose the opportunity to participate in the Send Home Story Program.”

Getting the program off the ground

As with all new programs, there were some challenges in the beginning. But, Dondero found solutions to them.

“The two biggest challenges I faced were finding a source of books to be able to give away and convincing the jail to let me come in with all my recording equipment. The second one was easily accomplished because our Sheriff is a big supporter of department partnerships.” Dondero had several meetings with the Sheriff’s Office, completed the jail’s required training, and was able to set up a monthly schedule of visits.  

The first few years, the project was truly a labor of love for Dondero and other library staff who supported and participated in it. The books themselves that were used, recorded, and sent to the children were donated by library patrons, library staff, and by Dondero himself. Trips to a discount store were made by Dondero or his supervisor each month to make sure there were enough books to keep the program going.

The program today: collaborators and community

Today, the Friends of the Gaston County Public Library donate books specifically for the Send Home Story Program. The days of combing the discount store shelves are in the past. There is a variety of materials in English and in Spanish jail residents can select from to read and have recorded to send to their young family members.

The program helps to improve literacy not only of the younger family members receiving the books, but also of some of the residents who participate who may have initially struggled with reading themselves. Reading materials to their child or other young relatives has been an incredible incentive to improve their own reading skills.

Now that the program has been in existence for several years, it is clear the Send Home Story Program fosters an incredible relationship between the individual, their family, and the library. Library use isn’t limited to the Send Home Story program, and the families come to the library and use its resources, services, and attend other programs even after release.

Special note: Not all Gaston County Jail residents are able to participate in the program. Unacceptable behavior in the correctional facility, restraining orders, and more may be reasons why a resident may not be able to participate.