FRANKLIN – St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office leaders celebrated the opening of a new library for the offenders held at St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on Friday.

The library operated in partnership with the St. Mary Parish Library is unique, as it is the only formal partnership of its kind between a law enforcement agency and library system in Louisiana, parish officials said online.

Sheriff Gary Driskell and Major Charles Parker hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new library branch on Friday, and additional kudos were given to Library Director Ashton Myers and Sgt. Asha Randall for working to get the project off the ground.

“In addition to library access, Myers has helped launch bi-monthly art classes and a monthly book club where offenders read on their own time and come together for discussion,” an online post read. “As Major Parker shared, it’s all about preparing these men to reenter our communities with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish.”