Prison Librarian

Main Objectives of Job



To provide a comprehensive library services at HMP Brixton, ensuring that the highest standards of customer care are maintained and guaranteeing prisoners are not socially excluded from the benefits of the library service.



To contribute to the development of a welcoming, energetic, modern, committed and innovative service covering all aspects of prison library provision.

The service is to meet requirements under PSI 02/2015 (and any updated legislation) and in line with CILIP Code of Professional Practice.



Main Accountabilities




  • Responsible for the day to day running of all library provision within HMP Brixton.

  • The provision of excellent and quality-centred library services designed to meet the recreational, educational, cultural and information needs of prisoners.

  • To implement targets according to development priorities for the prison library as set out by the Development team or the prison authorities.

  • The development and maintenance of efficient and effective operations systems (e.g.

    stock purchasing, cataloguing, circulation management, procedure, etc.).

  • Assisting the Development Librarians (Adult or Learning) in the development of the library service, undertaking an annual review of the library, updating and modernising the service as necessary.

  • Responsible to the Head of Learning & Skills for all internal prison operations.

  • Responsible to the Development Librarians (Adult or Learning) for professional library operations.

  • Participation in recruiting and selecting Prisoner Assistants as required.

    Supervising their work and training and that of any other staff assigned to the library (arranging duty rotas, etc.), and completing Individual Learning Plans.

  • Maintaining awareness of the profile of the prison community and running regular surveys to support reading and information needs.

  • Selecting within the guidelines laid down by senior and specialist staff a wide range of materials to match user requirements, taking particular care to meet the needs of minority groups and to provide basic skills materials.

  • Liaising with uniformed prison staff to ensure access to the library for all prisoners.

  • Liaising with the prison Education Department to provide library support for education courses.

  • Liaising with other relevant external bodies that support prisoners and their families

  • Providing an enquiry and reference service tailored to prisoner's needs and undertaking research where necessary in particularly to support legal queries.

  • Maintain and promote a local information file, and disseminate information as appropriate, to support rehabilitation on release.

  • Exploiting stock through a programme of displays, booklets etc.

    to generate interest and promote reading.

  • Ensuring a readers' request service is provided.

  • Providing user education and giving induction talks on the library.

  • Preparing reports and statistical returns as may be required by Lambeth Libraries or by the Prison Service.

  • Representing the Development Librarian - Adult and Learning within the prison and outside the prison as required.

  • To apply Health and Safety Policy in co-operation with the prison authorities and other staff so as to ensure the safety of staff and prisoners.

  • To maintain personal, library and prison security.

  • To carry out and manage effective enrolment, issue, discharge, shelving, renewal and overdue procedures.

  • The post holder must at all times have due regard for the Prison Service's and for the Council's Equal Opportunities and Race Relations Policies on which training may be required.

  • To maintain awareness of current developments in prison libraries through links with the relevant professional bodies and other prison library services.

  • To effectively communicate and liaise with other prison departments.

  • To promote and organise library-based events such as poetry and creative writing workshops, prisoner reading groups and author visits with a view to raising the profile and importance of the library within a prison environment.

  • Assisting in managing the resources budget for the prison library service.

  • To meet personal development targets agreed with the Development Librarian - Adult and Learning.

  • Undertake any other duties to further prison library objectives.





    • Share Job