Guest post by Jackie Stanfield, Hydebank Library
So many times during this pandemic I have been reminded of the opening of the renowned English post Rudyard Kipling's most famous work 'If'
"If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs..."
This is what it often felt like working in a prison environment where the only thing operating as normal was the library. Classrooms empty, gym closed, skeleton staff, bubbles created.. Suddenly, against this uncertainty and upheaval, the library became a lifeline for many.
As with so many other sectors, the effects of the pandemic means that adjustments had to be made to ensure the library could continue to function in a safe and sustainable fashion. Among the changes was the requirement to ensure that after every bubble of prisoners had visited the library, all returned items were quarantined for 72 hours and surfaces wiped down. Although this created extra work on my part, it was unquestionably worth it as it was clear this visit meant so much to so many.
Very quickly the library became everything in that one room...poetry was written, bookfolding created, stories recorded, canvases painted, wordsearches scanned and competitions entered. This was all carried out to a backdrop of the prisoners' chosen music on our big screen.
Images of BookFolding
(Left and Below)
Creative writing forms a large part of the library's work in Hydebank with prisoners and we are fortunate that help comes from many sources. Over ten years ago, a local author Sheena Wilkinson gave us the writing bug when she visited Hydebank Library to read from her first novel. She is still a regular visitor doing creating writing workshops funded by Poetry Ireland. Indeed we have produced several anthologies with Sheena's help. Assistance has also been forthcoming from the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) which has been facilitating creative writing Zoom classes over lockdown.
The Reader programme is another initiative which has been a part of Hydebank Library life for seven years now. It has played a key role in helping prisoners to enjoy shared reading, the art of listening to the spoken word, being read to, wanting to read to others and then ultimately progressing to write and read aloud their own work. Weekly reading aloud sessions continued in bubbles throughout. Feedback from prisoners participating in the programme was overwhelmingly positive with many indicating that they were 'buzzing' after writing and then reading aloud their own work. Some of the most eye-catching feedback quotes were:
"Brings order to my chaotic thoughts"
"An outlet for frustration and self-negative tendencies"
"Gets stuff outta (sic) my head and onto paper"
"Unlocks creative potential I didn't know I had"
The increased importance of the library throughout the pandemic did lead to some impressive output from the prison community. One of the prisoner's pieces of work has already been chosen to be included by Paperchains in a UK publication entitled 'Our Stories from Lockdown'.
Paperchains: Our Stories from Lockdown
Another female prisoner won a monetary prize at this year's Listowel Writing competition. At the time of writing, we are also awaiting results from our entries into the Koestler Awards for poetry, short stories and bookfolding, so watch this space!
Our short story entry for this competition was Hydebank's first bespoke story. I initially provided the first few lines to get the ball rolling:
'A man gets off a bus and stumbles when he sees the woman smiling at him. "How do I know you?" he enquires...'
Thereafter each bubble of prisoners subsequently added to the story. The result was a fascinating tale which took us on a journey with so many twists and turns. All this on top of the normal provision of books, CDs, DVDs and the usual dose of craic!
In addition to literary work, the prison library has also helped facilitate prisoners' involvement in charitable work. Action Cancer gave us the task of filling 6,000 envelopes on their behalf over lockdown. This was the first charity work some prisoners had ever undertaken. They could not believe the sense of self-worth it gave them. A new chapter for some, I hope!
In conclusion another line which comes to mind whilst we are still in this pandemic together is that of Charles Dickens in his book 'A Tale of Two Cities'
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"
Helping others when the world outside has become a scary place, where all sense of normality seems a long way off, has kept me going this year. I can truly say it has been my privilege to work in Hydebank Library.
Further images of Bookfolding (right and below)
