Prisoners build book-sharing boxes for Peterborough

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 07:20 · Archive

Prisoners at HMP Peterborough have made ten wooden book-sharing boxes for the city.

Ten wooden, weatherproof book-sharing boxes have been designed, built and decorated by prisoners at HMP Peterborough in partnership with voluntary librarian Dr Catherine Galloway and Cambridge-based community charity Abbey People. The first box was unveiled outside the prison by Peterborough's Labour MP Andrew Pakes, with the remaining boxes to be installed elsewhere in the city.

Inmates from both the men and women's sides of the prison were involved in building the boxes. Dr Galloway said: 'We know that bringing high-quality, free books to where people are makes a massive difference to literacy levels. Having prisoners at HMP Peterborough contributing to that is a perfect example of how this project is changing the story for everyone involved.' Another box will be placed at Outside Links, a support hub run by HMP Peterborough for people who have left prison.

The project is part of the Little Free Library movement, which began in Wisconsin in 2009 and now includes more than 200,000 registered libraries across 128 countries. According to the most recent Ministry of Justice data, 57 per cent of adult prisoners have literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old, with reoffending more likely as a result.

Prisoners build book-sharing boxes for Peterborough — Image: Peterborough Telegraph

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How it is being reported

'Little Free Libraries' arrive in Peterborough - thanks to inmates at city jailA brand new scheme aimed at helping Peterborough residents pick up a book and read has been launched – partly thanks to inmates at the city jail.Peterborough Telegraph · 26 Oct, 13:29
Prisoners make little library book boxes for cityThe inmates make 10 wooden sharing boxes and one is unveiled outside HMP Peterborough.BBC Cambridgeshire · 25 Oct, 06:20

In this story: HMP Peterborough · Catherine Galloway · Abbey People · Andrew Pakes · Peterborough · Cambridge · Little Free Library

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