What it's like to be a prison librarian? Neil Barclay invites us into HMP Thameside library in London.

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Neil Barclay is an award-winning civilian librarian at HMP Thameside. Nominated by prisoners, and described by his colleagues as “our library superstar”, Neil has been praised for the outstanding dedication, skill and creativity he has shown in transforming the prison’s library into a dynamic learning and resource centre, much valued by prisoners and staff, and described as “the envy of other prisons”.

Here he shares with us his passionate belief that books and reading have the power to rehabilitate and transform prisoners lives.

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