The awards celebrate the achievements of library workers who have had an exceptional impact on their service, users or their local communities. There are six categories reflecting the core services that modern library services provide and KCC’s success was in the Reading Award category.
Tracy McKechnie and Liz Gunn, from KCC’s Libraries, Registration and Archives service, were nominated for their use of technology to encourage more prisoners to use the library at HMP Swaleside during the Covid lockdown.
Because of the pandemic, the prison library was temporarily forced to close so Tracy and Liz quickly started a remote service. They offered a book request service for prisoners, started up a 'Lucky Dip' DVD club so that films could be borrowed, produced a regular newsletter and encouraged prisoners to take part in reading and family initiatives.
Its success led to the scheme being continued and makes a real difference in how prisoners can access the library service.
Prison library assistants Liz and Tracy were praised for their dedication to improving the lives of their customers.
“I am delighted that this award shines a light on the efforts by this particular team.”
Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “The work by our library service in prisons is an area that usually receives little publicity or credit, so I am delighted that this award shines a light on the efforts by this particular team.”
The award winners were chosen by expert judges including crime writer Priscilla Masters and children’s author Cathy Cassidy. The judging panels also included Arts Council England, The Reading Agency, BBC Arts and library app developer OverDrive, who sponsored the awards.
Isobel Hunter, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said: “These awards highlight the incredible opportunities that libraries offer to their communities. But most importantly they recognise the people that make that possible: the library workers who show such dedication, creativity and innovation every day.
“The winners are a credit to their library services – and to the public library sector as a whole.”
The award, presented in a ceremony at Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire, highlights the potential of the prison libraries to change lives something which was further endorsed by the news that four Kent prisons have just secured funding for university research.
Arts Council England has awarded Wolverhampton University the money for the Big Bookshare – a project which draws on ground-breaking research about reading habits to boost the wellbeing and employment prospects of prisoners.
It will take place in four Kent prisons - Swaleside, Elmley, Maidstone and East Sutton.
