Staff working in the State’s prison libraries are being celebrated during Library and Information Week this week (17 to 23 May) for assisting inmates to access more than 175,000 books and magazines over the time reading boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW), Peter Severin said the Week was a good opportunity to thank the professional librarians and library liaison officers at the State’s 42 prison libraries.
“Books and reading play an important role in the rehabilitation of people in custody, providing them with education, entertainment and an escape from prison life,” Mr Severin said.
“Maintaining access to books in a security environment does pose many challenges, but our enthusiastic librarians and support staff ensure inmates continue to have access to thousands of titles on a wide variety of topics and genres,” he said.
Library Services Manager with CSNSW, Rebecca Bollen Manalac said borrowing rates increased by 24 per cent during the pandemic, with 57,997 books checked out in 2020, compared to 46,625 the previous year.
“Reading allows inmates to learn new things, expand their understanding of the world and learn empathy,” Ms Bollen Manalac said.
“Books also provide an escape from reality, so they are much valued by inmates, particularly during the pandemic,” she said.
“It has been a very busy time for our staff in meeting the increased demand for prison library services and I’m very proud of the hard work they’ve put in to ensure inmates’ had continued access to a diverse range of titles.”
Ms Bollen Manalac said Library and Information Week offered her the chance to thank CSNSW library staff directly for their dedication.
