Victoria Barnett

I have worked in prison libraries for 15 years and manage the 5 prison libraries in Kent. We have a Long Term High Security prison, a local/remand prison, a designated foreign national prison, an open men’s prison and an open women’s prison, so I have experience of a broad range of prison types.

Prison libraries play a vital role in reducing reoffending, improving life-chances and strengthening family ties, so as Chair of the CILIP Prison Libraries Group I advocate for the provision of an excellent library service to prisoners, and seek to develop and maintain professional standards in prison libraries.