DESIGNING LIBRARIES
A place to escape in prisons
Designing Libraries provides information and inspiration for anyone interested in library design and development. The website (
designinglibraries.org.uk) has recently focused on prison libraries. Here Designing Libraries (DL) Director Ayub Khan considers what’s involved.
PRISONS exist to protect society from law-breakers and to punish wrong-doers for their crimes. They are not supposed to be pleasant places – but they do also have a duty to try to reduce reoffending rates after release. The prison library has a big role to play in this effort. Prison libraries are a statutory service, which means they have to be provided by law. According to the Prison Reform Trust, the rules say pris- oners should be able to visit the library at least once a week for a minimum of 30 minutes, and be allowed to borrow and exchange books. However, much depends on individual prisons having enough staff to provide the statutory mini- mum.
The library adds value by improving at least part of the prisoners’ environment – a place where they can read, study and ‘escape’ for a while. Some inmates will learn to read. Others might study for a degree. From a prison service perspective, the library is essentially an investment in prison- ers’ future prospects and a key element of the drive towards rehabilitation. Recent research found that 57 per cent of adults in UK prisons had a reading level below that of an average 11-year- old. Links between low literacy levels and crime are well- known. A report on reading education in prisons, published in March 2022 by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Ofsted, said prison leaders must “find a way to improve the basic reading skills of the huge proportion of prisoners who cur- rently lack them”. CILIP has developed an Excellence Framework for Prison
Libraries (
https://tinyurl.com/CILIPEFPL), based on the prem- ise that “improving reading skills and literacy are recognised as being an important factor in reducing reoffending and improving prisoner outcomes.” The CILIP framework goes on to say: “Prison libraries change lives by doing what public libraries do best. They provide a comfortable, neutral space, are non-judgmental, enable people to discover, democratise knowledge, give emotional enrichment – all issues which have a greater significance within the landscape of a prison sentence.”
Design elements There are factors, peculiar to the prison setting, which need to be considered and addressed in the design process. DL sponsors FGLL have worked on several prison libraries in recent years and say a close and honest working relationship with the commissioning body, whether it be a local authority or the prison itself, is essential.
10 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Noisy, overcrowded prisons are not particularly condu-
cive to inmates’ self-improvement. That’s why the library is so important, providing a sanctuary and a haven of relative peace. The key design elements are fairly self-evident:
1. Safety and Security: All elements must be robustly con- structed with no sharp edges and minimal moving parts to prevent misuse and risk of harm. Shelves and furniture are typically secured to the building structure.
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Recent research found that 57 per cent of adults in UK prisons had a reading level below that of an average 11-year-old.
Spring 2025
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