Prisoners make little library book boxes for city

Ten wooden, weatherproof book sharing boxes have been designed, built and decorated by prisoners.

HMP Peterborough partnered with voluntary librarian Dr Catherine Galloway and the Cambridge-based community charity Abbey People.

The first one was unveiled outside the prison by the Labour MP for Peterborough, Andrew Pakes, while the rest will be installed elsewhere in the city.

"We know that bringing high-quality, free books to where people are makes a massive difference to literacy levels," said Galloway.

"Having prisoners at HMP Peterborough contributing to that is a perfect example of how this project is changing the story for everyone involved."

The collaboration is the result of the Little Free Library movement, which began in Wisconsin, USA, in 2009, and now includes more than 200,000 registered libraries across 128 countries.

The not-for-profit organisation promotes book exchanges across the world.

Galloway and other volunteers started their own network in the Abbey ward of Cambridge in 2020.

She also wants to create 50 new book-sharing boxes to be installed in Cambridgeshire to mark the UK National Year of Reading 2026.

Inmates from both the men and women's sides of HMP Peterborough were involved in building the 10 boxes.

The prison said the inmates enjoyed the project.

The most recent Ministry of Justice data revealed that 57% of adult prisoners had literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old.

Reoffending was more likely as a result, HMP Peterborough said.

Andrew Barringer, the site's head of education, skills and work, added: "Prisoners feel empowered and proud that they are involved in a project that helps people and communities in an area they can relate to which is an essential part of the rehabilitation process."

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