Books prove their worth

In a digital age, the written word still has great power.

Consider:

Virginia inmates who have received free books through the Books Behind Bars program say the education and inspiration the books provide can be life-altering.

“You helped me last year and I got my G.E.D.,” one inmate wrote to the program. “On my pre-test I scored kind of low in reading. By reading more often, I scored the highest in my class.”

Added another: “As a result, I am now better prepared to return to college once I complete my sentence.”

Books gave inmates a better chance at turning their lives around. That’s power of the word.

When the Virginia Department of Corrections banned the program, it was through the written word that the news emerged. The Daily Pro-gress broke the story on Sept. 7.

From that initial reporting, the story went national. That’s the power of the word.

The story provoked high-placed protests and complaints. So swift and fervent were the protests that the Corrections Department quickly reversed its decision, while acting to make the program safer.

That’s the power of the word.

For 20 years, Books Behind Bars had been providing free donated books to Virginia inmates, ranging from Bibles and Qurans to dictionaries and self-help books.

Volunteers staff the program, which is sponsored by the Quest Institute.

Then recently corrections staff found paper clips in one book and a CD in another. These are considered contraband.

The agency halted the program’s practice of providing up to three books per inmate per month.

That decision unleashed a flood of criticism, much of it from the Char-lottesville area.

After all, Charlottesville is nationally rated for its high population of readers, an identity that goes all the way back to Thomas Jefferson (“I cannot live without books”).

Plus, many people in this community know and appreciate the work of Books Behind Bars from firsthand experience.

The Corrections Department had instituted the ban out of concern that contraband could be introduced.

Even the accidental inclusion of paper clips was a serious offense, as paper clips can be fashioned into a weapon.

The department also was concerned about not having enough manpower to oversee the program at the receiving end.

In a letter reinstating the program, Gene Johnson, corrections director, apologized for not being directly involved in the issue because recent state budget cuts and budgetary issues had required his attention.

Budget cuts also mean that, over the long term, the department will have fewer people available to check incoming books for problems.

Program volunteers will have to be diligent in preventing problems at the source.

But the department was right to reinstate the program. The positive influence it has had on inmates is clear.

We applaud the department for its quick correction of an ill-considered decision.