This page gathers published material about prison libraries, including news features, Inside Time pieces, blog posts, podcast episodes and more from across the UK and globally.
Finding Freedom in Storytelling (December 2025) Read this article about Quick Reads author Fiona Cummins visit to HMYOI Brinsford and HMP Oakwood as part of the Reading Agency’s work with Staffordshire County Council’s library service to bring authors and reading opportunities into prisons. The final part of the article talks about the role of libraries in prison life.
Big Issue article: People in prison need art, music and reading’: Inside the prison libraries that break down walls (16 June 2024) by Brontë Schiltz
inside times pieces
Articles about prison libraries often feature in Inside Time, the “National Newspaper for Prisoners and Detainees” which gives a voice to people in prison. Some are posted below:
“Life on the shelf: Prison libraries are great – if they’re open” (1 November 2023) by Rachel Billington https://insidetime.org/comment/life-on-the-shelf-prison-libraries-are-great-if-theyre-open/
“Lots going on in the library” (1 September 2023) by Doctor JD, HMP High Down https://insidetime.org/mailbag/lots-going-on-in-the-library-2/
“Library made all the difference” (19 February 2024) by David J – formerly of HMP Liverpool https://insidetime.org/mailbag/library-made-all-the-difference/