The illustrator Medar de la Cruz captures his experiences working as a library assistant at Rikers Island, one of the world’s most notorious jails.
Follow
Click to Follow B2PSeattle
Books to Prisoners (Seattle)
@B2PSeattle
Seattle nonprofit mailing free books to incarcerated people in the United States. Advocating for access to education & communication in facilities since 1973.
Books to Prisoners (Seattle)’s Tweets
We made a really big ask during #GiveBIG 2023: funds to send 2,023 packages of books. You all raised enough to send every one of those packages and also to send 100 packages of books beyond that. These gifts will ship almost two full months of book requests! This community is❤️
read image description
ALT
3
13
You've been inundated with asks by this time, so we promise this is our very last nudge. But we're 2/3 of the way to our goal right now--can we get up to our goal of 2,023 packages of books out the door for #GiveBIG 2023? wagives.org/organization/B
Quote Tweet
Tomorrow officially kicks off #GiveBIG, Washington's biggest community giving event! ...But there's no need to wait! Early giving is now open, and we want to raise enough funds this year to provide 2023 packages of books: wagives.org/organization/B
read image description
ALT
3
3
Not kidding about those commissary prices. lackawan.jailcanteen.com/hygiene/web-hy
How many $42.00 "Snack Attack" purchases do you think it's going to take to fund access to a book at Lackawanna County Prison?
2
2
Show this thread
So Lackawanna County Prison Board wants to take away access to all physical books & replace access to books with tablets which can only be maintained if family members are able to pay $16.22 for a toothbrush & 2.25 ounces of deodorant for their loved ones. yahoo.com/lifestyle/lack
1
10
10
Show this thread
Tomorrow officially kicks off #GiveBIG, Washington's biggest community giving event! ...But there's no need to wait! Early giving is now open, and we want to raise enough funds this year to provide 2023 packages of books: wagives.org/organization/B
read image description
ALT
1
4
7
This year for #IndieBookstoreDay BOGO a book for an incarcerated person through the always great . At Queen Anne Books, Phinney Books, and Left Bank books, just ask at the counter about their Books to Prisoners wishlist. Dictionaries are always requested!
Quote Tweet
It's #IndependentBookstoreDay! Purchase a qualifying book for an incarcerated reader from partner bookstores & a donor will match your investment. @PhinneyBooks will donate an ADDITIONAL 5% of ALL store purchases today (4/29/23)!
Shop online for us, too: bookshop.org/wishlists/db45
read image description
ALT
1
4
7
It's #IndependentBookstoreDay! Purchase a qualifying book for an incarcerated reader from partner bookstores & a donor will match your investment. will donate an ADDITIONAL 5% of ALL store purchases today (4/29/23)!
Shop online for us, too: bookshop.org/wishlists/db45
read image description
ALT
6
8
Friends, will receive not only a copy of a book you buy from the online wishlist below, another donor will match it with another copy. It’s from April 28-May 8.
This is an org that sends free books to incarcerated people. Thanks! qabookco.com/wishlist/333
1
7
3
3. . Providing all things books to all readers. Shop the specially marked table at Queen Anne Book Company 4/28/23-5/8/23. Want to shop online? Check out our store wishlist! Every book on the list qualifies for the #IndieBookstoreDay match: qabookco.com/wishlist/333
2
3
Show this thread
2. Left Bank Books. Right in the heart of Pike Place Market, the best leftist bookstore around. Need we say more? Stop by their marked table 4/28/23-5/8/23 to support Books to Prisoners, or browse their cart of used books to support us year-round! #IndieBookstoreDay
1
2
4
Show this thread
1. . A neighborhood bookstore for Phinney Ridge/Greenwood in Seattle. 4/28/23-5/8/23, browse the special table marked for Books to Prisoners. On Saturday, April 29, Phinney Books is generously donating an additional 5% of ALL bookstore sales! ❤️ #IndieBookstoreDay
1
2
4
Show this thread
We're so excited to be partnering with THREE bookstores for #IndependentBookstoreDay 2023! Even more exciting, a donor has pledged to match every purchase of a qualifying book 1:1 between 4/28/23 and 5/8/23!
Shop local, support Books to Prisoners. Learn about our partners 👇
read image description
ALT
1
23
28
Show this thread
Thank you for leading the Prison Libraries Act. Inclusion in libraries includes all members of our society and those who are incarcerated have much to benefit from this act. Thank you for endorsing -- Can't wait to see this continue moving forward!
Quote Tweet
As we celebrate National Library Week and all the benefits libraries offer, I’m proud to introduce my Prison Libraries Act with @JacksonLeeTX18 and @RepShontelBrown to expand library resources in correctional facilities across the country.
cleaver.house.gov/media-center/p
Show this thread
4
18
The Prison Libraries Act is long overdue. Prison libraries are often one of the first services to see budget cuts. The Illinois prison system spent less than $300 on library books for its facilities in 2017. This bill is a step toward reversing that trend.
7
Show this thread
“Free access to ideas, information, & literature not only enlivens intellects & perspectives amid confining environments, but prepares individuals ... for eventual re-entry.” - Nadine Farid Johnson, Managing Director of Washington
Read more:
1
1
5
Show this thread
“By providing the freedom to learn & explore life beyond the confines of prison walls, the PLA gets to the heart of libraries’ mission: equitable access to information for everyone.” - Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozado, President
Read more:
1
2
Show this thread
Today, Reps and introduced the Prison Libraries Act to build capacity for library services and resources inside state prisons. We, alongside many prison book programs, are proud to endorse this bill. Read more:
3
7
16
Show this thread
Hundreds of book titles have been challenged or banned from libraries and schools over the last year.
Prisons ban thousands.
Florida's prisons alone ban 20,000.
1
2
5
Show this thread
Gratitude to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Edmonds, Washington, who chose Books to Prisoners as its recipient for February offerings. These contributions will help cover our library space and packing materials ❤️
2
10
This is a super important and comprehensive examination of current policies restricting access to books in prisons!
Quote Tweet
How do Departments of Corrections determine which materials people in prison can access?
With funding from @AscendiumEd, Steve Pokornowski, @KurtisTanaka, & @DarnellEpps7 provide an overview of prison media review policies across the US. sr.ithaka.org/publications/s
Show this thread
read image description
ALT
5
4
The SMC policy banning paper mail has to end!
Join us tomorrow 5-6 PM at the County building. here's a list of reasons this policy needs to be reversed:
-stores messages for 7 years in searchable database
-stores GPS locations & bank information of families who send messages..
1
11
18
Show this thread
Our neighborhood bookstore, which has supported our organization over the years through book readings and a table for donations, could really use your help right now.
Quote Tweet
It looked like Couth Buzzard Books in Greenwood was going to close this month. But then, wonderfully and unexpectedly, regular patrons stepped in.
seattletimes.com/entertainment/
1
6
A national organization based in Madison is sending books to LGBTQ+ incarcerated people across the United States.
4
12
Join this event on April 25! is a volunteer with Books to Prisoners and will be generously donating a portion of the proceeds from each book purchased at the event to help get more books into the hands of incarcerated readers! ♥️
Quote Tweet
Can we really separate artists from their art? How do we balance our moral outrage with our love of their work? Based on her viral Paris Review essay, @ClaireDederer will discuss her book "Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma" 4/25 at 7:30 PM | Tickets at bit.ly/3L0pxHH
2
5
has been a great supporter of Books to Prisoners, from hosting a book reading of "Dear Books to Prisoners..." to maintaining a table to provide book donations. Read more about the fight to keep our neighbor in operation: seattletimes.com/entertainment/
Quote Tweet
If you love local bookstores and local character, please share this GoFundMe to help save The Couth Buzzard, a longtime bookstore/coffeehouse/community space in Greenwood. gofundme.com/f/wmruq-save-t
1
Books to Prisoners just received a large, anonymous donation in honor of one of our long-time volunteers. The donor did not provide their name, so if you're on here and you see this message, thank you. It's incredible. This is enough postage money for books to reach 150+ people.
5
47
Have you also gone through any state’s prisons appeal process over a book rejection?
We’d like to learn more from you — please write to us: bookbans[@]themarshallproject.org
6
8
The NYC Department of Corrections (@CorrectionsNYC ) is planning on stopping and other nonprofit book programs from being able to send books into the (infamous) Rikers Island jail complex.
Rikers houses both convicted people and pre-trial detainees. 1/
2
7
6
Show this thread
2
5
Florida is full of it. They have no reason to ban her book and lie and say it could cause physical harm. Physical harm to whom??
Quote Tweet
Florida State Prison wants to ban Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by @DrJoyDeGruy under the pretense that the book "encourages, provides instruction, or facilitates the commission of a crime." The prison also apparently believes this book will "lead to the use of physical violence"
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
2
3
11
Ironically, these are accurate descriptions of what our nation’s prisons promote.
Lots of love and gratitude to for giving PTSS to our incarcerated beloveds on their healing journeys.
#PTSS #ReadBannedBooks #BeatThePrisonBooksBan
Quote Tweet
Florida State Prison wants to ban Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by @DrJoyDeGruy under the pretense that the book "encourages, provides instruction, or facilitates the commission of a crime." The prison also apparently believes this book will "lead to the use of physical violence"
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
4
25
48
Florida State Prison wants to ban Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by under the pretense that the book "encourages, provides instruction, or facilitates the commission of a crime." The prison also apparently believes this book will "lead to the use of physical violence"
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
8
6
Hundreds of book titles are banned inside Wisconsin prisons, according to list obtained by Wisconsin Public Radio in response to a public records request.
3
9
11
3
4
Today, the Washington Senate passed #SB5131, ensuring money sent to incarcerated individuals for commissary purchases like soap and toothpaste actually reaches those individuals. This bill looks to get rid of high deductions plaguing this system. Long overdue!
1
12
Thank you, , for covering this project! And it's true--many of the book selections are sobering reminders about how our carceral system functions and who stays locked up.
3
4
Thank you to for the comic book donation! Comic books are always highly requested among our writers.
4
35
Listen to one of our long-term volunteers and board members, Andy Chan, talk about how we adapted our volunteer practices during COVID and beyond. (Thank you for helping us and tell our stories, !)
2