Australian prison libraries: minimum standard guidelines

8. Inmate services

8.1 All prisoners shall be eligible to visit the library and use its services, within the limits necessary for good order and security within the prison. Provisions of the ALIA Statement on Freedom to Read shall be observed.

8.2 Prison library services shall be free in accordance with the ALIA Statement on Free Library Services to All. Under this statement, 'each Australian has an equal right to information' and members of publicly funded libraries should not have to pay 'any direct charge or fee for information services... whatever the nature or form of the information service'.

8.3 Library services shall be available during inmate work and leisure time periods, including evenings and weekends. Each prisoner shall be entitled to at least five visits a week, or a minimum of seven hours' contact time.

8.4 At all times during inmate use, the library shall be staffed by a person trained in library procedures.

8.5 Suitable provisions shall be made for inmates in special confinement or inmates who for other reasons, e.g. physical infirmity, are unable to visit the library.

8.6 A general reference service shall be provided equivalent to that available in public libraries. This will include such things as:

• Assistance in obtaining information
• Reading lists
• Reader's advisory service

For inquiries requiring a higher level of training or more extensive resources than a prison library can normally provide, a back-up service from another library (e.g. a State or public library) shall be available.

8.7 Assistance in legal reference work shall be available, by contract if necessary, from a law library. It is not to be expected that any library can provide this kind of service beyond a level which would apply for the general public; however it is recommended, in the interests of justice, that special consideration be given for the needs of prisoners in this regard.

8.8 Prison libraries shall make their stock available for loan to inmates as in public libraries. For items not held, a request service shall operate. This will include, where possible, use of the inter-library loan system.

8.9 A service for photocopying of library materials shall be available to inmates, with minimum restriction on its use.

8.10 Training in library skills shall be given to inmate users.

8.11 Every effort shall be made to promote the library and its services to inmates and to encourage reading and related activities. The value of library services to prisoners shall also be promoted to custodial staff.