Grand Opening of Women's Library at Elmwood Correctional Campus

Thursday, December 5th, marked a new milestone at the Elmwood Correctional Campus. The opening of the newly expanded Elmwood Women's Library was more than just a ribbon-cutting event—it was a symbol of hope, growth, and opportunity for the women in custody at the facility. The new Elmwood Women's Library provides access to educational resources, legal texts, and self-help materials to help women in custody develop new skills and enhance their personal growth.

While it's easy to assume that libraries are just places for casual reading or entertainment, inside a correctional facility, they take on a much deeper role. For many incarcerated women, the library is a sanctuary—a place where they can connect with their minds, their futures, and themselves in ways that are often hard to come by in the daily passage of prison life. Libraries in correctional facilities offer vital resources that support education, vocational training, and mental help, creating a pathway for personal transformation and future success.

Studies have shown that access to education, vocational training, and mental health resources can significantly reduce the likelihood of reoffending. And the Elmwood Women’s Library is an essential piece of that puzzle. The partnership between the Santa Clara County Library District and the Sheriff's Office will play a pivotal role in reducing recidivism and improving reentry outcomes for women incarcerated at Elmwood.