> CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
> 7 Ridgmount St, London WC1E 7AE.
> 
> Tel: 020 7255 0500  
> Textphone: 020 7255 0505  
> Fax: 020 7255 0501  
> Email: [log in to unmask] 
> 
> News from CILIP
> Wednesday 20 June 2007 
> 
> Winner of the 2007 ILIG International Award announced
> 
> Mrs Jan Lewis, a British resident of Barbados since 1998 has won a prestigious International Award for her voluntary work at Her Majesty's Prison Harrison Point. This award has been given by the International Library and Information Group of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Librarian and Professionals in the United Kingdom.
> 
> The award is given annually to someone "making a difference in Libraries and Information Services outside of the U.K." Last year's was a Malaysian librarian, who was the Head of Information Services at the Malaysian campus of the University of Nottingham U.K.
> 
> Jan Lewis was nominated for the award by ex-colleagues in Wales, where she worked in the University of Glamorgan for 16 years before moving to Barbados with her husband and daughter. The selection panel was moved by the account of the work that Jan has done, first in Glendairy Prisons and more recently at Harrison Point.
> 
> Jan began her voluntary work in July 2000 by establishing a Library in the Female Section of Glendairy, which was officially opened by Baroness Scotland in December of that year. In 2003 she was asked to also work in the Male Section Library. In December 2003 Superintendent Lt. Col. John Nurse awarded her a Humanitarian Award for her contribution to the Prison.
> 
> Jan has been successful in building well-stocked Libraries. Her work consists of appealing for, and then collecting and sorting, donations of books; sourcing special need materials e.g. foreign language books for foreign inmates, educational books for rehabilitation needs. She trains inmates in a Library Skills programme which she has devised. She regularly visits cell blocks with a trolley of books, making sure that, regardless of whether an inmate is on remand or facing a life sentence, he or she has access to reading material. The fire at Glendairy Prison had a devastating effect on her work. A vast amount of stock was lost, but undaunted, she has faced the challenge of re-stocking the shelves in the temporary facility at Harrison Point. The Library service is very popular at the Prison where over 78% of the 1000 or so male inmates borrow books; in the Female Section over 98% of inmates are regular readers. Fiction books of course are very popular, but she is always amazed at the amount of requests she receives for educational, religious and skills-training material. 
> 
> Jan tells us" I thoroughly enjoy my work at the prison. I hope that I help provide and support some of the rehabilitation needs of the inmates. I was astounded to hear the news that I had won this award. I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated books to me, keep them coming!  I also hope to gain new contacts for donations of much needed book stock through this exposure. I am looking forward to the move to the new prison in St Philip, where I hope my work can continue in modern purpose-built facilities." 
> 
>  She flies to London on June 27th to receive her award at CILIP's Award Dinner.
> 
> Anyone wishing to contact Jan with donations of suitable books for the prison can do so via Seren Publishing. Tel. (246) 428 0988
> 
> Press contact: 
> Hazel Dakers, Chair of CILIP's International Library and Information Group
> Tel: 020 8568 2209 
> Mailto:[log in to unmask]       
> 
> 
> Notes for Editors
> 
> Photographs of Mrs Jan Lewis are available on request.
> 
> CILIP International Library and Information Group
> ILIG exists to unite CILIP members both in the UK and abroad who have a strong interest in international work. Its purpose is to foster good international relations within the profession; lessen professional isolation; encourage closer international understanding, and contribute t> o the development of library and information services overseas. For further information go to:
> http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/international/about
> 
> ILIG International Award
> http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/international/awards/newintaward.htm
> 
> CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
> CILIP is the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers.  It forms a community of around 40,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 22,000 are CILIP members and around 12,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises. Website: www.cilip.org.uk
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> 
> -Ends-
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