Features
|
FURTHER INFORMATION
|
Reading is a pleasure many of us take for granted but it's even more crucial when you're locked up for most of the day. We find out how prison librarians are using books to help break the cycle of crime
A life line
“Prison is totally different to anywhere else,” says UNISON
member Carole Bowe. When she began her career as a librarian she didn’t
imagine that she’d end up in a category B adult prison. But when
she left London and her job in an Eastend library to live in Gloucestershire
the job that came up was as prison librarian at HM Gloucester Prison.
After 13 years of working with prisoners she knows just how significant
the prison library is for rehabilitation.
“Over 60% of prisoners have low basic skills and using the library
can help improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading,”
she explains. Although she does admit that it is a challenging environment
to work in. “It can be difficult,” she says. “Working
here has made me realise how important the library is for the prisoners.”
She is aware that many people feel that prisoners should not have any
privileges but believes as most prisoners go back into society the prison
service needs to help them live law abiding lives on release.
“The men are really pleased to have this service,” she explains,
“many of them will have never used a library before.”
It is a statutory requirement for the 140 prisons in England and Wales
to provide a library service and most of these are provided by the local
library authority. Bowe’s library is part of Gloucestershire county
library service and the library looks like a small branch.
Bowe explains that one of her key roles is to encourage prisoners to read
and do better for themselves. She describes many of them as, “emerging
readers”.
One prisoner Bowe met told her no-one wanted to share a cell with him
because he couldn’t read and he would talk all the time. She encouraged
him to take out taped books.
“He came back the next day for more and almost in tears told me
he had never been read to in his life and that the tapes had made him
discover a whole new world.” He has now gone on to study basic Maths
and English.
With so many hours a day spent locked up in a cell, reading becomes an
essential part of the prisoner’s life.
“Prison can be a difficult place to be despite reporting to the
contrary. Unless a prisoner has a designated job they can spend up to
23 hours a day in their cell,” says Bowe. “Books are the only
item a prisoner can take to his cell, and many use them to furnish their
cells.”
Prison can of course also be a difficult place for the staff. Although
Bowe feels comfortable in the environment she is not complacent about
the risks.
“People ask if I am worried about working in prison and statistically
civilian staff are more likely to be taken hostage,” she says. “The
reality is that I have never had to press either of the two alarm bells
in the library in the 13 years I have worked there. Prisoners are usually
well behaved and are pleased to have time out of their cells and look
forward to their visit.”
The prisoners joke with Bowe that she has done a life sentence herself
with all the years she has put in and one of the most popular jobs in
the prison is to work alongside Bowe as a library assistant.
Each wing has a set day to visit the library and they come in groups of
ten. It is a prison rule that each prisoner has the right to 20 minutes
a week in the library and they can take out up to ten books a week. Take
up is high with 70-80% of prisoners using the library.
The library also plays a key role in trying to look after the prisoners’
well-being. Bowe sorts out boxes of relaxation tapes and advice books
for prisoners called ‘listeners’ who are trained by the Samaritans
to help fellow prisoners with problems.
"All staff in prisons are concerned about the increasing suicide
rate and are trained in how to deal with these sad occurrences.
“There is a high incidence of mental health problems in prisons
and prison libraries should stock adequate material to help and support
prisoners.’
Bowe has a book fund and uses her own criteria when deciding which books
to order.
‘I don’t censor any books. If a book is legal it should be
available in the library but I also use my common sense.”
Popular fiction authors are Martina Cole, David Eddings and Donald Goines
and poetry, biographies and foreign language books make up a lot of the
non-fiction. Information needs of prisoners are wide ranging with enquiries
ranging from, solicitors details to drug rehabilitation centres, to advice
about college courses.
Poetry is enormously popular and Bowe has organised poetry events with
poets such as John Hegley appearing.
Bowe is confident that the library makes an enormous difference to the
lives of prisoners.
“Some get certificates and go on to apply for college but the main
aim is for prisoners to have changed.
“We want to break the cycle and show them there is an alternative.”
Story by Nathalie Towner
 |
DEVELOPING SKILLS |
LOTS MORE FEATURESIncluding stress in the workplace, getting out of debt and the pensions crisis more... |
© Copyright 2008
