Books Behind Bars: Adult Education and the Importance of Prison Libraries

Dr Thi Bogossian, University of East Anglia

On the 16th of May 2024, the UEA UNESCO Chair for Education and Development hosted an insightful seminar titled "Books Behind Bars: Adult Education and the Importance of Prison Libraries." This hybrid event, held both on-campus at UEA's ZICER Building and online, provided a platform to discuss the transformative role of prison libraries in adult education.

Insights from the Margins: The Role of Prison Libraries

Lisa Krolak, Chief Librarian at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Hamburg, opened the seminar with a compelling presentation on the significance of prison libraries. Drawing from her publication, Books Beyond Bars: The Transformative Potential of Prison Libraries, Lisa highlighted that prison populations are often highly marginalized, consisting of diverse ethnic groups and languages, with limited opportunities for formal education and learning.

Lisa highlighted the low levels of literacy among prisoners in the UK and the need to assess their reading skills upon entry and continually monitor their progress. She emphasized that inmates with low literacy find it challenging to navigate basic aspects of prison life. In addition, it was noted that too few teachers are trained in teaching literacy to adults and literacy for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), often leaving this crucial task to third-sector organizations. This further marginalises immigrants and ethnic minorities. In addition, opportunities to use the prison library are limited, and prisoners earn more money working than attending education classes, further discouraging participation in educational programs.

Nevertheless, Lisa underscored that prison libraries can be safe and friendly social meeting and learning spaces supporting education and lifelong learning, access to information, recreation and distraction, cultural activities, spiritual development, and digital literacy. The benefits of these libraries include access to learning opportunities, materials in different languages and literacy levels, support for social cohesion, literacy activities and reading promotion, autonomy, legal information, and minimizing the negative impact of incarceration on families. Overall, they have the potential to improve employability, life skills, and wellbeing.

A key point in her presentation was the need for prison-wide reading strategies, supported by management, to make reading an integral part of prison life for pleasure, purpose, rehabilitation, and resettlement upon release. Lisa drew from a wide range of examples, from Germany and South Africa to Brazil and Philippines, highlighting practices where access to libraries has improved the lives of incarcerated people.

Practical Perspectives on Prison Education

Zee Cassoneca, Head of Education, Skills, and Work at HMP Norwich, provided practical insights from his extensive experience in prison education programmes. Zee's presentation outlined the pivotal role of educational leadership within the prison and the responsibilities of the Education Skills and Work team. Key responsibilities include leading the approach to education, skills, and work functions to achieve positive educational and employment outcomes for prisoners, with an emphasis on assessing all prisoners' reading abilities through a diagnostic tool to accurately identify and monitor skills.

Zee highlighted the importance of specialist training for education staff to effectively teach reading. A whole-prison reading focus aims to embed reading within the curriculum, fostering a love for reading and critical engagement. Collaboration with the library, education providers, and the Shannon Trust supports these reading initiatives. Reading prioritisation is another critical aspect, aiming to recognize reading as a priority across the prison. This involves promoting the benefits of reading, supporting empathy towards those with reading needs, fostering discussions, providing appropriate reading spaces, and ensuring access to engaging reading materials.

The centralised library of HMP Norwich was portrayed as a significant resource, serving 478 members (64.6% of the prison population) and issuing 1,498 books, equally divided between fiction and non-fiction. The availability of foreign language books in multiple languages was also noted. Overall, Zee's presentation emphasized the importance of reading and education in the rehabilitation process, aiming to create a supportive and engaging learning environment within the prison.

Reflecting on Transformative Potential

Dr Burcu Evren, Specialist in National Education and Advisor to the Deputy Minister of National Education in Turkey, reflected on the previous discussions and emphasized the crucial role of prison libraries in supporting the educational, informational, and recreational needs of incarcerated individuals.

Burcu highlighted that prison libraries serve as catalysts for positive change within correctional institutions. By providing access to knowledge, fostering literacy and digital skills, and promoting self-reflection and self-esteem among inmates, these libraries play a vital role in breaking the cycle of recidivism and facilitating successful reintegration into society.

She underscored the importance of tailoring library services to meet the diverse needs of inmate populations, as demonstrated by Norwich Prison. By prioritizing access to knowledge and learning opportunities, Norwich Prison has successfully cultivated an environment where inmates are empowered to pursue personal growth and transformation.

Conclusion

The "Books Behind Bars: Adult Education and the Importance of Prison Libraries" seminar illuminated the transformative potential of prison libraries. Through the insights shared by Lisa Krolak, Zee Cassoneca, and Burcu Evren, it became clear that these libraries play a crucial role in the rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated individuals. By providing safe spaces for learning, fostering a love for reading, and supporting personal growth, prison libraries can help break the cycle of recidivism and empower inmates to envision a brighter future.

This was the last seminar of the 2023/2024 series, promoted by UEA UNESCO Chair in Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation. We finished the event with a wine reception, where we reflected what our group achieved this year and plans for the year ahead.