The 9th of August is Book Lovers Day – a day to celebrate reading, connect through literature and support bookstores nationwide. This special day celebrates the joy and importance of reading and encourages people worldwide to indulge in their love for books. The Prison Radio Association promotes the value of reading through our daily National Prison Radio show Books Unlocked.
The Ministry of Justice report that 57 percent of adult prisoners have literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old and this has been linked to a higher rate of reoffending. Crucially, a lack of reading skills limits prisoners’ ability to navigate life within and after prison. Reading is often regarded as a central importance to prisoners lives for this reason.
For over a decade, every evening National Prison Radio has broadcast an audio book into prison cells in England and Wales through our show Books Unlocked in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
The programme features Booker Prize nominated titles and is funded by the Booker Prize Foundation.
People can listen to book readings on their in-cell televisions or laptops at 11pm every day of the week. A different title is featured each month. Listeners can write in to request a free copy of the featured book. Readers are then encouraged to follow the text along with the show.
The aim of Books Unlocked is to support people in prison to read.
Reading can help improve emotional wellbeing and confidence, encouraging wider reading and promote tolerance and empathy.
Last year, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, we gave out over 100 free copies of our Books Unlocked featured books to prisoners and broadcast over 10 Booker Prize titles over the year.
“I’ve gained level 2 (GCSES) in English by reading more thanks to Books Unlocked. I now understand words!” – National Prison Radio Listener.
“I listen to Books Unlocked, The Request Show, Street Heat, NPR Talk, everything has helped me get through this sentence.” – National Prison Radio Listener.
This Book Lovers Day National Prison Radio will be broadcasting Small Island by Andrea Levy on Books Unlocked.
Small Island tells the story of Hortense and Michael who emigrated from the Caribbean to England on the Empire Windrush in 1948.
To hear a taster of what Books Unlocked sounds like on National Prison Radio, click below:
Promo for Oh William by Elizabeth Strout – the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge, My Name Is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible, and other novels.
And to hear National Prison Radio’s Ali interview Booker Prize author Esi Edugyan on her book Washington Black that broadcast previously on National Prison Radio, click below:
Happy Book Lovers Day!
Books Unlocked broadcasts every night at 11pm on National Prison Radio.
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