MANY REPORTS DESCRIBE PRISON LIBRARIES AND SPECIALIZED GROUP READING PROGRAMS AS IF THEY ALL WERE WORKING SUCCESSFULLY TOWARD THE GOAL OF REHABILITATION. THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION (ACA) HOLDS THAT THE LIBRARY IS ESSENTIAL TO REHABILITATION AND THAT PRISON LIBRARIES SHOULD PROVIDE ONLY THOSE MATERIALS WHICH HAVE 'POSITIVE VALUE.' HOWEVER, PRISON LIBRARY PROGRAMS USUALLY LACK ADEQUATE BUDGETS, FACILITIES, PERSONNEL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. THE ACA CLAIM THAT EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT PRISON LIBRARIES IS DISPUTED BY THE FACT THAT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS CAN AND OFTEN DO FUNCTION WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF LIBRARIES. SHORTCOMINGS ARE POINTED OUT OF AN EXPERIMENT WHICH CONCLUDED THAT BIBLIOTHERAPY CAN PROVE EFFECTIVE IN CHANGING THE ATTITUDES OF INMATES. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF PRISON LIBRARIES IS JUSTIFIED BY THE PRISONERS' RIGHT TO READ RATHER THAN BY ANY REHABILITATIVE FUNCTION. IMPLICATIONS OF A SHIFT TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE, LESS PROGRAMMATIC EMPHASIS FOR PRISON LIBRARIES ARE CONSIDERED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.