Australian prison libraries: minimum standard guidelines

Foreword

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), in its Statement on freedom to read, affirms the right of all Australians to have access to library services. Prisoners and others in detention are no exception. The Association believes that these services should be of the highest standard; the present publication is intended to offer guidance in this direction.

It is widely acknowledged that libraries play a positive role in the lives of prisoners, as they do with other people. They provide resources to support educational, recreational and welfare programs, assisting in the acquisition of new skills. They help in addressing psychological needs, attitude problems and difficulties in coping with prison life. Prison libraries are also a non-threatening link with the outside world, and in that sense are a benefit not only to prisoners themselves but to the entire correctional system.

The need for better standards in Australian prison libraries has been recognised for several years by librarians in this field. The extent of this need was indicated in a 1987 report by the National Corrective Services Librarians Group. As a result of this report, the ALIA commissioned a Working Party to prepare minimum standard guidelines. The Working Party, convened by Phil Roberts, together with Jackie Broadsmith, John Myrtle, Robert Pestell, and Ellen Quinn, produced these guidelines, and the ALIA is indebted to their efforts.

Recognising the considerable variation in the conditions which apply in Australian prisons, the Working Party has consulted as widely as possible. In a situation of such diversity, it is not easy to arrive at uniform standards. Nevertheless, the guidelines embodied here are issued in the belief that they are realistic and achievable throughout the nation. The ALIA will work with correctional authorities to ensure their implementation.

The ALIA acknowledges with gratitude the kind permission of the Library Association (London) to reproduce portions of its Prison libraries: library association guidelines. The encouragement by staff of the Australian Institute of Criminology is also acknowledged.

Averill M B Edwards
Past president 1990