INTERVIEW ‘‘
Rob Green is Editor of Information Professional.
Prisoners who are bored are more likely to be destructive and frustrated so there is an important role for the library to play.
– Victoria Barnett
Raising awareness of the benefits of prison libraries
In the wake of the recent Arts Council England (ACE) Profile of Prison Libraries – Evaluation Report Rob Green talks to Victoria Barnett, Chair of CILIP’s Prison Libraries Group (PLG). The interview looks at the impact of libraries in prisons, why awareness at all levels is critical and the next steps.
PRISON libraries, by their nature, are largely unseen and often under-appreciated by the wider public. But the impact they have on lives stretches beyond the confines of the prison walls – helping inmates connect with family, building skills and improving mental health and wellbeing.
Victoria Barnett, Chair of CILIP’s PLG and Prison Library Development Manager for Kent County Council, was instrumental in developing the ACE report and believes it has the potential to dramati- cally improve the lives of both staff and prisoners. The report highlights the need to engage across the board, and Victoria says the impact of a good library service can be profound for under-resourced, high need environments like prisons. “Many prisoners struggle with behavioural issues that become accen- tuated in a prison environment, and there is a high proportion of neurodiverse prisoners. This coupled with the shortage of experienced prison officers has put prisons under a lot of pressure. “Prisoners who are bored are more likely to be destructive and frustrated so there is an important role for the library to play. Whilst it might look like ‘just’ reading, there’s a lot more going on when somebody uses the library – they might be learning to read for a better future; reading for pleasure with
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all the benefits to their wellbeing that that provides; enjoying spending time in a normalising environ- ment that encourages good behaviours; learning about themselves and others through self-reflection; finding things to interest them and occupy their minds for the long hours of boredom; using their time constructively. All these elements contribute to the desistance journey of a prisoner, and make the prison as a whole, a better place.
“Reading can also provide conversation topics be- tween prisoners, and between prisoners and officers. They may come from very different backgrounds, but discussing a book they are reading gives them some common ground and improves social connec- tions, which encourages desistance. Officers who are engaging with the library themselves have a better understanding of the benefits to the prisoners in their care, and are more likely to talk about read- ing and encourage prisoners to use the library, so engaging with officers is an important aspect of our work.”
The report evaluated a number of initiatives that have been designed to improve awareness of prison libraries, including a nationwide advertising cam- paign on prison radio. Victoria said: “The campaign to raise the profile of the prison library on prison radio was very well-received by prisoners according
February-March 2026
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