Second Chance Books is an award-winning collaboration between the Austin Public Library and the Gardner Betts Juvenile Detention Center. The collaboration began in 2003 and has become an invaluable resource to the incarcerated youth at Gardner Betts. Incarceration is not pleasant, but through the work of Gardner Betts teachers and Austin Public Library librarians, incarcerated youth are provided with books that they would like to read either for pleasure, personal growth, or both.

ALA 2008 Presentation