The transformative potential of prison libraries
Lisa Krolak works since 2001 as Chief Librarian at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Hamburg, Germany. She holds a Diploma in Librarianship (Germany, 1992) and a MSc in Information and Library Studies (UK, 1997). In her current position, her research interest lies in the role of libraries for supporting literacy and lifelong learning. Lisa is the Chair of the global working group on prison libraries of IFLA, in the framework of the IFLA Section for Library Services to People with Special Needs (LSN). In this function, she co-coordinated and edited the 2023 update of the IFLA Guidelines on Prison Libraries, together with Jane Garner (Australia).
Dr. Jane Garner is a Library and Information Studies academic teaching within the School of Information and Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University, in Australia. Her research focusses on the delivery of library and information services to disadvantaged and underprivileged communities. She is particularly interested in the role and experience of using libraries in adult and juvenile prisons. Jane is also interested in how public libraries can contribute to the lives of disadvantaged community members, and in their social justice role within these communities.
Gerhard Peschers is a graduate theologian and librarian. Since 1992, he works as librarian at the specialist centre for prison libraries, responsible for around 30 libraries in 19 prisons and three youth detention centres in Westphalia-Lippe; since 1996, spokesperson for the Prison Libraries Working Group at the German Library Association (dbv), since 2006, chairman of the Prison Libraries Support Association (Förderverein Gefangenenbüchereien e.V.), 2016-2019 corresponding member of the IFLA LSN section, 2019-2023 member of the IFLA LSN working group for updating the international guidelines for prison libraries.
Abstract: Global perspectives on prison libraries
Prisoners have a fundamental right to access information, reading materials and learning opportunities during their time of incarceration, as outlined in the Nelson-Mandela-Rules (UNODC, 2015). This is particularly important as prisoners often come from disadvantaged socio-economic and educational backgrounds.Prison libraries play an important role in providing this access and in fulfilling the societal mandate of prisons to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners. This is highlighted in various international documents, such as the UIL publication Books beyond Bars (Krolak, 2019) and the recently published IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners (Garner and Krolak, 2023).
An international Working Group of Prison Libraries was established in 2019 in the framework of IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, as a first attempt to connect this global community. During this workshop, members of the working group will exchange their experiences and research in the area of prison libraries and advocate for (public) libraries to connect with prison libraries to support the library needs of prisoners.