Library in prison

(Baonghean.vn) - As a habit, after work and rehabilitation sessions, inmates at Prison No. 3 (under General Department VIII, Ministry of Public Security) seek out the library. For them, reading time is also a time for quiet reflection, reading to learn, to understand more, and to rediscover themselves...

While intently reading each page of a law book, inmate Tran Hong Chuong expressed: “Due to a lack of understanding, I previously committed illegal acts that led to my imprisonment. Therefore, in addition to novels, I often read law books. The knowledge gained from these books will help me understand more, so that after serving my sentence and returning to the community, I will avoid doing wrong things.”

Prisoner Tran Hong Chuong searches for books in the library.

For fraud and organizing illegal embezzlement, Chương received a 24-year prison sentence. Upon entering prison, Chương often clashed with other inmates. However, with the help of prison guards and the support of books, Chương gradually understood his crimes and resolved to reform himself and atone for his mistakes.

Prisoner Chương added: “Besides books related to law, I also read books like 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'… I pondered over them every night and it felt like my soul was cleansed, and I truly awakened. The beautiful things about life and people through each page inspired me to nurture faith and the desire to rebuild my life.”

Like inmate Chương, inmate Nguyễn Huy Ngọc (from Gia Bình, Bắc Ninh) always felt ashamed and inferior because of his drug trafficking conviction and life sentence. Thanks to the guidance of the prison guards, Ngọc gradually woke up and overcame his despair. Inmate Ngọc said: “Besides my time doing correctional labor, I go to the library to read books 2-3 times a week. Through each page, I find lessons on how to be a good person, guiding me towards an honest life…”

Among the books I've read, the one I appreciate most is "Resurrection from Despair." The quote, "It's never too late to cleanse yourself of a painful past and start anew," has given me renewed faith and hope," Mr. Ngoc shared.

At the two sub-camps of Prison No. 3, there are currently over 3,000 books of various genres, mainly divided into three categories: career guidance books, books on ethics, law, and life skills training, and novels and literature. Outside of work and rehabilitation hours, inmates can visit the library to read, and those inmates who need books are facilitated by the sub-camp staff to register to borrow books to read in their cells.

The inmates are reading books in the library of Sub- trại 1.

Colonel Phan Dinh Thanh, Superintendent of Prison No. 3, stated: "With over 2,000 inmates serving sentences, including many convicted of serious crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and embezzlement, the nature of these crimes is dangerous, and the mindset of those with high sentences and multiple prior convictions is very complex. Therefore, along with other forms of management and education, the prison management always prioritizes the role of books. Accordingly, the prison has established a library for inmates. Monthly and quarterly, in coordination with the Provincial Library, we rotate and add new books to the library's collection."

Providing opportunities for inmates to read books contributes to the dissemination of the Party and State's policies, guidelines, and laws, supporting the education and rehabilitation of prisoners. Reading books provides each inmate with a useful source of information for learning and self-improvement during their rehabilitation. By visiting the library, inmates will find many beneficial things from books and newspapers, enabling them to consider and adjust their behavior to conform to ethical standards upon their return to the community.

Indeed, although it was just the arrangement of a reading room, this seemingly small gesture brought immense happiness to those who benefited from it. More importantly, while books and reading culture are declining in many places, in the correctional facility, the presence of books not only enriches the spiritual lives of inmates but also helps them better understand and appreciate the values ​​of life and labor… making their return home truly more meaningful and brighter.

Dang Nguyen