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<p> </p><p>The average prison libraries spend for each prisoner for 2012-13 (the latest
year for which figures are available) is £105 for the male prison estate and £134
for the female prison estate. The combined cost for each prisoner (male and female)
is £106.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The figures are based on the average male and female
population figures for 2012-13 and the designation of prisons into the male or female
estate according to their major function as at 31 March 2013.</p><p /> <p> </p><p
/> <p>Costs have been drawn from NOMS central accounting records, which, as with any
large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p><p
/> <p> </p><p /> <p>Prison library services are provided by the local authority library
service for all public sector prisons in a way that is consistent with that available
to library users in the wider community. Library services also may be commissioned
locally by prisons to meet the individual needs of the local prisoner population.</p><p
/> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Prison Service has always recognised the importance of reading
and literature in the rehabilitative process, and the positive effects these have
on prisoners. Every prison has a library which is available to all prisoners to make
sure they have access to books and other material for education and training purposes.</p><p
/> <p> </p>
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