The State Library of North Carolina, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Division of Rehabilitation and Reentry will host this interactive pre-conference session designed to deepen understanding of barriers faced by justice-impacted individuals as they transition from incarceration back into society. Attendees will participate in a Reentry Simulation, an immersive experience that highlights the systemic challenges individuals encounter when securing housing, employment, transportation, and other basic needs. By engaging directly with these real-life scenarios, library staff will gain a great awareness of complex barriers to successful reintegration. Following the simulation, the State Library will facilitate a guided reflection and work session, where participants will contribute to the development of a living resource document. This document will serve as a practical toolkit for library staff across the state, offering strategies, resources, and best practices for serving justice-impacted individuals. The entire session will empower attendees to develop sustainable, equity focused approaches to reentry support within their libraries.
