Freedom Reads Opens Libraries Inside California Medical Facility

Freedom Reads, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to literature in prisons, announced today the opening of 24 Freedom Libraries at California Medical Facility (CMF) this week. The opening reflects Freedom Reads' continued commitment to reaching every corner of the nation’s correctional system, and a recognition that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of literature.

Each library, built by formerly incarcerated men, features a carefully curated collection of titles spanning poetry, fiction, history, and memoir. Placed directly in cellblocks, the libraries invite spontaneous engagement and ensure that literature is within reach for every reader.

"Our ongoing partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has allowed us to bring Freedom Libraries, the Inside Literary Prize, and my performance of Felon into facilities across California," said Freedom Reads Founder and CEO, Reginald Dwayne Betts. "We are delighted to open 24 Freedom Libraries at CMF to create opportunities for unfettered access to books that spark hope and enliven the imagination. We will be back to bring even more Freedom Libraries."

Betts will also perform his one-man show Felon, based on his poetry collection of the same name, at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday evening as part of Freedom Reads' broader programming across California.

CMF Warden Sircoya M. Williams welcomed the partnership: "We are pleased to welcome Freedom Reads to our facility. For the individuals in our care, access to literature can support their education, skill-building and personal growth. Literature provides a sense of connection, escape, and dignity. These libraries are a meaningful addition to the care we strive to provide.”

CMF, located in Vacaville, California, serves a unique population of incarcerated men with medical and mental health needs. For many of them, a Freedom Library may be their most reliable window to the wider world.

Freedom Reads is committed to promoting generosity, redemption, and dignity and believes that literature can help everyone imagine new possibilities. For those Inside, these aren’t just new libraries but a chance to see themselves differently and to discover the joy and hope that books can bring.