Incarceration is a traumatic life experience for both convicted and non-convicted individuals and life in prison is not easy to get through. However, prison administrations often establish different avenues for the prisoners to help them navigate through their incarceration. One such avenue is prison libraries. This study explores the influence of the prison library in the lives of eight incarcerated individuals, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The study is based on the concept of the ‘whole person librarianship’ while using a phenomenological approach. The analysis resulted in the emergence of three broad themes: ‘Coming to term with incarceration’, ‘Library, a ray of hope’ and ‘Reinventing self through books’. The study expands our understanding of how the prison library can be a place that reduces stress and increases positive mental health by serving the ‘whole person’. Furthermore, it reduces stress and anxiety related to the state of liminality created by incarceration and gives inmates a purpose beyond prison. Thus, it helps them in making meaning of their situation, being mindful of themselves and their surroundings, healing them in the process, and supports their well-being. The findings suggest that books help the inmates to navigate their lives during incarceration.

对于有罪和无罪的人来说，监禁都是一种痛苦的生活经历，在监狱中生活不容易解决。但是，监狱管理部门通常为囚犯建立不同的渠道，以帮助他们在监禁中穿行。这样的途径之一是监狱图书馆。这项研究探讨了印度北方邦监狱图书馆对八名被监禁者生活的影响。该研究基于“全人图书馆管理”的概念，同时采用了现象学的方法。分析导致出现了三个广泛的主题：“陷入监禁”，“图书馆，一线希望”和“通过书籍重塑自我”。该研究扩大了我们对监狱图书馆如何通过为“整个人”服务来减轻压力并增加积极心理健康的地方的理解。此外，它减少了与监禁所造成的刑法状态有关的压力和焦虑，并使囚犯有超越监狱的目的。因此，它可以帮助他们理解自己的处境，关注自己和周围环境，在治疗过程中使他们康复，并支持他们的幸福。研究结果表明，书籍可以帮助囚犯在监禁中度过他们的生活。注意自己和周围环境，在此过程中使他们康复，并支持他们的福祉。研究结果表明，书籍可以帮助囚犯在监禁中度过他们的生活。注意自己和周围环境，在此过程中使他们康复，并支持他们的福祉。研究结果表明，书籍可以帮助囚犯在监禁中度过他们的生活。