How big would the world be if I could not read : A study of female prisoners reading at the correctional institution Hinseberg

The object of this thesis is to direct attention onto female inmates who is a disregarded user group within the discipline of library and information sciences. This study has been performed on location at the Hinseberg correctional institution where nine female criminal offenders constitute the empirical foundation of our inquiry. The question proposed for solution is as follows: Is there a correlation between socio-cultural prerequisites and the reading habits of the female inmates - and if so how can it be described? Among the conclusions that we have drawn from our study is that the socio-cultural environment has an influence on the well-being of the inmates which in its turn has an impact on their reading. However, the effects on their mental state vary and consequently so does also their reading. Through the Berntsen-Larsen categorical model of literary reading various causes come into view as to why and how the women subjected to our study read. Escapism along with an aspiration to achieve enhanced individual competency and personal development are among the most frequent motives. In addition, the act of reading can be capitalised by the inmates in order to maintain the communication with the surrounding world. Our conjecture implies that this facilitates future rehabilitation to society. A more lucid assessment based on the interview with the librarian, on statements by inmates, and on other facts indicates that the library of the correctional institution at Hinseberg is managed with insufficient fiscal means. We consider this fact regrettable, particularly in view of the positive effects resulting from the inmates reading as shown in our study.Uppsatsnivå: