JACKIE MANNERS

Biography: Jackie began her library career at the Royal Society of Medicine in 1983

After obtaining her Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship in 1985, she worked at the Tavistock Centre Library, an NHS library specialising in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

Upon chartering and moving to Dorset in 1988, Jackie set up and ran the Health Information Centre based in Poole Library

In 1990   she moved to West Sussex Library Service to take up the post of Principal Librarian - Special Services with responsibility of managing services to people who have difficulty accessing library services including the library at HMP Ford. The post title has now changed to Equal Access Librarian.

Title: Bridging the gap in West Sussex (needs of prisoners and those undergoing resettlement).

Summary: Bridging the gap was a partnership project between West Sussex Library Service, Sussex Probation Service and HMP Ford, facilitated through South East Museum , Library and Archive Council.  It aimed to literally 'Bridge the Gap' in offender education opportunities between the prison and on release.  The main thrust of this was to make ex-offenders aware of the services available to them, for free through their local library.