Books To Prisoners is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a love of reading behind bars, encourage the pursuit of knowledge, self-empowerment, and break the cycle of recidivism. Founded in the early 1970s, Books To Prisoners is headquartered in Seattle with three associate organizations. As one of the largest and oldest prison book projects in the country, Books to Prisoners works in partnership with other groups that support prisoner literacy and promote social justice. This organization relies on books donated by community members to answer these requests, so please consider making a donation (monetary or donate books) to help a few of the thousands of individuals who request books each year.
Did you know that more than 2 million people in the United States are incarcerated. Most of those 2 million have extremely limited access to something most of us can’t imagine living without: books! For prisoners, whether in your local jail or in state or federal prison, a book may be the only thing that keeps them sane. The ability to learn a new language, about history, or just to travel to other worlds, can help engage a mind and prevent it from spiraling into depression and despair. As a self-published author this is a great opportunity to get my book into the hands of yearning readers who do not have easy access to a bookstore, library, or the internet. I would recommend all authors, regardless of how their literary work has been published, to donate a few copies to this organization. At the end of the day, an author’s main goal is to have their written work read and appreciated by like-minded readers.
Although Books to Prisoners only accepts books from their priority list, I strongly suggest visiting their website to get more information before donating. Their donating books web page provides clear and concise instructions on how to donate books which includes their commonly requested list. I am donating 7 autographed copies of my book PNĔUMÄ – The Celestial Beings Trilogy in hopes that a reader’s mind gets lost in the pages of a parallel universe rooted in supernatural forces.
IN THE MEDIA:
In March 2019, the Washington State Department of Corrections (WA DOC) prohibited state prisons from accepting used books mailed to individuals, alleging that they could be used to smuggle drugs. Books to Prisoners successfully challenged this decision. Support from local media was invaluable in rallying public opinion behind incarcerated people’s right to read.
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