San Quentin residents filled Christmas stockings for their children through the Holiday Book Fair sponsored by the Friends of San Quentin Library.

The event, held in the Main Library, featured book selections ranging from beginning readers to young adults. 

“My greatest joy is to see a group of people who are “marginalized” given the opportunity to share, interact, and take a gift from God to help others,” said Friends of San Quentin Library organizer Lisa J.

Approximately 400 residents participated in the book fair, leading many to express their joy of being able share in the joy that gift giving provides.  

Resident Joshua, who has two kids, said, “This will make their day once their mom gives the books to them.”

Upon entering the library, residents were provided with a vision of hundreds of books arranged on various tables.

Each area identified a certain book genre including picture books for babies, young teens, and beginning and middle readers. There were also sections listed as uncorrected proofs of new books in categories such as science, holiday, Spanish, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.  

“The book fair is amazing,” said Lisa J. “It provides residents with the ability to share and give to their kids.”    

The ability to read directly to a child or children via the GTL tablets may become a possibility in the near future. Resident Rahim said, “It would give us the opportunity to let our kids know we love them and that they are on our minds.”

The ability to share a gift chosen by, and sent to, a child is one of the greatest aspects of the book fair, said an event organizer.

Every outside guest expressed joy and appreciation for the residents participation. It was the most rewarding aspect of the event.  

Outside librarian Natalie, from San Francisco, indicated that this is an opportunity for her to witness something special. “The bond formed between a father and his kid, helping the kid to read ─ ‘that’ is relationship building. It benefits both the parent and the child.

“When you read to a child, you give that child the chance to hear you and be with you. When you give a child the gift of a book, the child can learn and grow, and you can be a part of that growth ─ paraphrase of an old Chinese proverb.”

Friends of San Quentin Library co-founder Kristi K. said that she “loved to share books and resources. It’s fun to talk with the guys, especially when helping [them] to choose a book. There are more resources in here, and more ‘thank you’s’ from the participants.”

Rahim B. reinforced this sentiment, saying, “This has assisted in my relationship with my grandson. He will be two years old in May. It gives me the opportunity to let him know I care and he is on my mind.”  

Poet Laureate and Friends of San Quentin Library Francesca said, “I enjoy watching people working together.”

She noted how much it means to the residents to be able to pick out what to give. “People in prison want to give,” she said. “They are actually working on themselves with an openness and honesty not always seen. This is an unharnessed culture of good, a sense of community.”

Resident Green said that the event “was cool, all free, good when you don’t have any money.”  He was able to obtain six books to send to his family because of the size of his family.  

He said that he would love the opportunity to sit with his grandkids and read because he has never had the chance to meet the majority of them.  

The estimation by library staff was that approximately 270 books were mailed to family during this event.