Bedlam Library is located within a secure institution for the criminally insane. It is not on the mainland USA so you'd probably find it difficult to visit us in person. The nature of our facility and the inmates incarcerated here mean that only staff, a few close relatives of the inmates and other authorised persons get within our walls.

Bedlam was devised back in the 1930's as an 'escape proof' asylum for the kind of ultra-dangerous, mentally disturbed people who could not be contained by ordinary facilities. It is on an island in the North Pacific several hours flying time from Hawaii (during World War 2, even the Japanese gave this place a wide berth). Our island is surrounded by strong tides and (as far as we know) predatory ocean life and was deliberately selected (like Alcatraz) because it's impossible to get even a short distance from the shore without a boat - any attempt to swim to nearby islands would undoubtedly be fatal.

For a time there was a separate facility for patients who were guilty of violence, lack of co-operation or otherwise breaking the Asylum's rules. Such offenders were placed under harsh discipline in a camp-like environment until they were judged to have learned the error of their ways. One of our inmates - the infamous Woodland Falls Rapist Duane Kendrick - labelled the barbed wire enclosed compounds "Bedlam Holiday Camp"; the grim name stuck and a vacation behind its fences became a feared experience. To this day, unfounded rumours persist that the camp (and its draconian system of punishments) is still in operation.      

We are visited by a supply ship at intervals. A motor launch transports staff and visitors to and from the nearest island which is linked to the USA through its airfield and port - there is a fairly regular seaplane service (twice monthly), but sea travel is limited to hitching a ride on one of the banana boats which call twice each year.

The Bedlam Library Website is the work of our most intelligent inmates - it tends to reflect their personal interests and fascinations. They write about crimes like murder and sexual offences, plus other frequently dark social and historical subjects with the kind of personal insights which are perhaps denied to the completely sane. In many respects, they understand the motivations and inspirations of criminals and monsters better than anybody else. Apart from being barred from writing about their own crimes, there is no censorship of their input.

Our inmates are allowed to use the Internet and appreciate correspondence from people outside the Asylum. For obvious reasons, we have to monitor their incoming and outgoing mail - many of them are considered to be incurable psychopaths. We hope that this information has been helpful.