Hinseberg and Ystad are the only women's institutions in Sweden with security class 2. No women's institution currently has the highest, security class 1.

Over the past year, two books on horoscopes have been the most lent among the interns at Hinseberg, which is the country's largest women's institution. In third place is Thomas Bodström's book Trippelmordet in Uddevalla.

In addition, you can find books on dream interpretation and the popular book Surrounded by Idiots on the top 10 list.

"The prisoners want to understand themselves, it's very clear," says library assistant Helena Blixt, who has been responsible for lending at Hinseberg since 2016.

Erotic novel popular

Lightning adds that autobiographies are borrowed and in great demand at the institute. The Hinse Witch, the autobiography of Lillemor Östlin - who himself sat at Hinseberg for over 20 years - has been loaned extensively during all the years that Blixt has worked at the institute.

Among the most popular audio books on Hinseberg are several thrillers and covers. But the most borrowed audiobook is the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Him by EL James.

Want to prepare for life outside

At the Ystad facility, no statistics are kept on the books that are most borrowed. By contrast, librarian Berith Svensson, who has worked with the loans there for a few years, says that self-help, training and manual books are borrowed extensively.

- Of course, it is clear that they read poets, autobiographies and crime books. But something that strikes one is that there are also many books that should make one feel better and to look ahead, says Svensson.

She believes that the interns' choice of books indicates that they are focused on the future and life in freedom.

- It feels like you are planning for your release and future life. If you are locked in for X number of years, you think a lot about how things change there on the outside. That's why professional literature and journals about everything from the environment, to dogs and technology are also popular, Berith Svensson believes.