Two women have scooped a national prize for their efforts in helping inmates to read while in prison.

Tracy McKechnie and Liz Gunn were nominated at the Libraries Connected Awards for using technology to keep convicts at Sheppey’s HMP Swaleside in touch with literature.

Due to the pandemic, the prison library was temporarily forced to close, so the duo, of Kent County Council (KCC) Libraries, quickly started a remote option.

They offered a book request service, started up a lucky dip DVD club so films could be borrowed, produced a regular newsletter and encouraged prisoners to take part in reading and family initiatives.

The awards celebrate the achievements of library workers who have had an exceptional impact on their service, users or their communities, with KCC’s success coming in the Reading Award category.

Mike Hill, KCC’s cabinet member for community and regulatory services, said: “The work by our library service in prisons is an area that usually receives little publicity or credit, so I am delighted that this award shines a light on the efforts by this particular team.”

Meanwhile, chief executive of Libraries Connected, Isobel Hunter, added: “These awards highlight the incredible opportunities libraries offer to their communities.

“But, most importantly, they recognise the people that make that possible – the library workers who show such dedication, creativity and innovation every day.

“The winners are a credit to their library services, and to the public library sector as a whole.”

The award winners were chosen by expert judges including crime writer Priscilla Masters and children’s author Cathy Cassidy.

The success came just a week after four Kent prisons were chosen to get funding for university research.

Arts Council England awarded the University of Wolverhampton money for the Big Bookshare – a project which draws on research about reading habits to boost the wellbeing and employment prospects of prisoners.

It will be implemented at HMP Swaleside, Elmley, Maidstone and East Sutton.