As all members of society became isolated during COVID-19, inmates in correctional facilities saw their already small social circles shrink even more. In Oklahoma state correctional facilities, volunteer activities were suspended for months and locations were locked down for weeks on end, confining inmates to their cells to prevent the spread of disease. This increased detachment from society exacerbated the feelings of isolation among inmates and removed most of the recreational activities available to them.

To help inmates feel more a part of their community, Pioneer Library System partnered with the leisure library at the Lexington Assessment and Retention Center, a local medium-security state penitentiary, to include inmates in the library’s summer learning program. Inmates tracked their individual reading time each week and turned it in to their librarian, who submitted weekly totals. In addition to the public library’s community goal of six million minutes, the inmates set their own goal of reading one million minutes.

48 inmates logged a staggering 1.19 million minutes of reading and helped the library reach its larger goal: One in every eight minutes logged over the summer was logged by an inmate. Inmates were also motivated by the prospect of contributing positively to their community. When the library met its larger goal, the library foundation donated books to area children. Participating in the challenge gave inmates a way to contribute to positive change in their community even from behind bars — especially while in lockdown.