Hidden From Public View: Advocating And Collaborating For The Information Needs Of Incarcerated Manitobans

Abstract

Manitoba has one of Canada's highest incarceration rates, with 75% in remand and 80% of inmates being Indigenous, despite making up only 18% of the population. Yet, provincial prisons lack mandated library services, limiting access to legal, cultural, and educational resources. Since 2012, the Manitoba Library Association’s Prison Libraries Committee has worked with community partners to create humane, informative spaces in prisons. Their advocacy challenges censorship, supports personal agency, and promotes systemic change. Partnerships with government and human rights organizations are influencing policy. This grassroots movement reflects the broader societal health, aiming to address injustices behind prison walls.