Columbia River Correctional Institution (CRCI) is extremely proud of its relationship with the Multnomah County Library and The Library Foundation, which recently donated $9,000 worth of books to CRCI and Inverness Jail. The grant money is from the Every Child Initiative and was used to fund classes at CRCI such as “A Book is a Bridge.”

Pandemic restrictions in 2020 did not allow for volunteers to provide such classes, so the grant money could not be spent on books and supplies for the programs. However, the Library Foundation had to put the remaining grant money to good use, so it was decided 50 percent of the remaining funds will be used to supplement and replenish the institution’s General Library and 50 percent will go towards children’s books.

When visiting resumes, a table will be set up filled with children’s books and each child will be able to select a book to take home with them.