The New York Public Library and New York City Department of Correction Celebrate Grand Opening of New Library at Manhattan Detention Complex

May 2, 2018 – The New York Public Library and the New York City Department of Correction celebrated the grand opening of a new library at the Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC) this morning. The space officially opened today in a ribbon cutting ceremony with DOC and Library staff, elected officials, and Library patrons from the facility.

The 654-square-foot space is the second dedicated library to be installed in one of New York City’s correctional facilities, following the opening of a library at the Rosie M. Singer Center on Rikers Island in 2016. Featuring a Library-inspired mural designed by people held at MDC, the new Library will provide patrons with bi-monthly access to approximately 1,400 books and magazines.

“The New York Public Library’s new space at MDC expands on the wonderful work of the Library's Correctional Services department, which has built a productive partnership with New York City's local jail population offering programs, books, and resources,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “It is essential that our incarcerated patrons are able to remain engaged with their community, increasing their potential for success when they exit the system.”  

 “We are proud to be opening this wonderful new library in partnership with the New York Public Library," said Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann. "We all know that books can have a profound impact on people’s lives. Our library is a space where detainees can explore many titles and expand their possibilities through the knowledge, inspiration, and empowerment gained by reading. The people who come here will be engaged in one of the most positive activities people can do, and the often calming results of reading can only increase the safety for the officers and non-uniformed staff at MDC."

Since 1980, The New York Public Library has provided reading materials and programming to incarcerated New Yorkers and their families, offering a wide-range of materials and programs. The Library’s Correctional Services department circulated over 30,000 books throughout the correctional system this year and offers significant programs and services such as:

  • Video Visitation: allowing people in any DOC facility the ability to connect with parents and children via video through reading and conversation;
  • Daddy & Me/Mommy & Me: a storytime project with incarcerated parents, which records them reading a favorite storybook for their children;
  • Connections: a directory of New York City resources available to help people when they leave prison.

The library at MDC comes as part of a broad spectrum of initiatives and programming partnerships that DOC has taken under the de Blasio administration. The Department has gone from less than 45 minutes of non-school programming available per day to nearly 100 percent of eligible individuals in DOC custody are offered up to 5 hours of regularly scheduled programming, which includes certified courses in a range of skills from construction and auto repair to restaurant training and resume building. All of these programs are designed to decrease recidivism and provide participants with skills that will help them re-enter their communities when they leave DOC custody.   

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the New York City Department of Correction

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) provides for the care, custody, and control of persons accused of crimes or convicted and sentenced to one year or less of jail time. The Department manages 12 facilities, nine of which are located on Rikers Island. In addition, the Department operates two hospital wards (Bellevue and Elmhurst hospitals) and court holding facilities in each borough. During Fiscal Year 2017, the Department handled over 58,000 admissions and managed an average daily inmate population of approximately 9,500 individuals. Our dedicated workforce of both uniformed and non-uniformed staff members represent the city’s BOLDEST.