Prison Libraries
Every prison must have a library and all categories of prisoners must have the opportunity to visit the library. Our vision for prison libraries is:
To provide offenders in custody with a similar range of services to those found in public libraries in the outside community, and to facilitate in practical ways the smooth transition to their usage of such services on release, as a means of encouraging them to adopt a positive role in society.
The library service within a prison should be seen as part of the core provision of the establishment. Provision of library services in prisons is currently delivered by 64 Local Authorities in England and Wales. This is done through a Service Level Agreement with each establishment, using on-site local authority librarians funded through ring-fenced DIUS - Offenders Learning and Skills Unit (OLSU) funding. Further ring-fenced funding is provided to provide book and non-book materials, as well as associated off-site services to maintain and exchange the stock.
The OLSU has introducing a new draft Prison Library Specification for a wider ranging and up-to-date Offender Library, Learning and Information Service, in consultation with Public Library Authorities, Prison Service - National Procurement Unit and the Prison Libraries Group.
It sets out an agenda to introduce a new integrated service, including reader development, basic skills support, distance/individualised learning and information, advice and guidance. This, along with the introduction of realistic and relevant targets and the increase in funding available, will drive up the quality and range of provision, taking account of the individual needs of offenders and improving choice.
The new service was piloted in July 2005 in the same three development regions used by the OLASS Project (North East, North West and South West) and was introduced nationally in August 2006.
In order to achieve our aims and objectives, the OLSU have managed to secure significant increases in funding for prison libraries. Since 05-06 to 07-08, funding has already increased from £3.7m to £7m, to take into account pilot activity and the national implementation of the Specification across all nine regions. This equates to approximately 90% increase in the prison library budget over the past 3 years.
The big increase in funding is a testament to how OLSU see prison libraries as integral to the learning and skills agenda and wider life of the prison establishment. OLSU alongside its key partners, have every intention to provide a prison library service which matches as closely as possible the equivalent provision in a mainstream public library.
This new funding structure will assist in realising our vision for prison libraries and provide offenders in custody with a similar range of services to those found in public libraries in the outside community, and will facilitate the smooth transition to their usage of such services on release.
Following the pilots in the three development regions, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) conducted an evaluation of the new Library service. A report into the pilot activity and findings are available by clicking on the following links:
Implementation of the new Library Specification (Full Version) (DOC, 309 Kb)
Implementation of the new Library Specification (Summary) (DOC, 95 Kb)
