You won't see Roger and Susan during shifts very often, but they make enormous contributions behind the scenes. When “Books to Prisoners” (BtP) worked out of the University Christian Church in the U-district, Roger was a Wednesday morning regular. He was also a Friend of the Seattle Public Library, and frequently brought books the SPL … Continue reading Meet Roger and Susan, Volunteers of the Month for June 2023
Blog
How the Grateful Dead Played a Part in BTP Becoming a 501(c)3 Nonprofit
Author Andy Chan has been with BtP since 1994. Books to Prisoners is federally registered 501(c)3 nonprofit and has been since 2009 (donations to BTP are tax-deductible!). But for decades like many small charities we weren’t a 501(c)3, not least because the cost of applying seemed prohibitive, and the number of donors asking if they … Continue reading How the Grateful Dead Played a Part in BTP Becoming a 501(c)3 Nonprofit
Meet Chloe, Volunteer of the Month for May 2023
What got you interested in BTP to begin with, or what made you start volunteering? Does it tie in to the rest of your life in any meaningful way? I first heard about BTP when I lived in Olympia (around 2018), where I grew up, and when I went to college I was excited to … Continue reading Meet Chloe, Volunteer of the Month for May 2023
April 28 – May 8 Independent Bookstore Days are here
Shop local in Seattle and support Books to Prisoners starting tomorrow! Phinney Books, 7405 Greenwood Ave N Left Bank Books, 92 Pike St Queen Anne Book Company, 1811 Queen Anne Ave N. Each of these three stores will have a table devoted to frequently-requested titles. Whatever you spend on books from those tables during Independent … Continue reading April 28 – May 8 Independent Bookstore Days are here
Thank you, Wheel of Time Fans!
Thanks to Kate Reading, Micheal Kramer, and the Wheel of Time fans of the https://www.patreon.com/littleband who recently donated over $1200 to BtP. Kate and Michael, who record the audio versions of the Wheel of Time books written by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, are long-time BtP supporters. Donate at least $50 to BtP (or another … Continue reading Thank you, Wheel of Time Fans!
Buy a Book and Support Books to Prisoners
Claire Dederer is a best-selling author. She's also a volunteer at BtP. Town Hall Seattle and the Elliott Bay Book Company are sponsoring a discussion of her latest book at 7:30 pm, April 25. For every copy of "Monsters" sold at this event, Ms. Dederer will donate $5.00 to us. This event will be in-person … Continue reading Buy a Book and Support Books to Prisoners
Comrade Animals – Pluto & Juno
From 2013 to 2018, Books to Prisoners filled orders out of a basement work space we rented from the University Christian Church at NE 50th St and 15th Ave NE. This has been our only venue so far to provide live music to work by. On Tuesday nights, the Seattle Choral Company rehearsed down the … Continue reading Comrade Animals – Pluto & Juno
Meet Sol, Volunteer of the Month for April 2023
Sol began an internship with Books to Prisoners in January 2023. She has redone much of our signage and our visual guide to where books can be found by subject. What got you interested in BTP to begin with, or what made you start volunteering? Does it tie in to the rest of your life … Continue reading Meet Sol, Volunteer of the Month for April 2023
Keep Free Books Available to People at Rikers Island
Call for action: It is our understanding that NYC Department of Corrections is planning on stopping Books to Prisoners and other prison book programs from sending books into the infamous Rikers Island jail complex. Rikers houses convicted people and pre-trial detainees. The NYCDOC's Board of Correction released a communication which notably allows companies that sell books (Amazon, … Continue reading Keep Free Books Available to People at Rikers Island
Interview with A Voice From Prison
"There are over forty organizations in the United States that distribute donated books to prisons and incarcerated individuals. One of these nonprofit organizations is Books to Prisoners, located in Seattle, Washington. They have been responding to individual requests for books for close to five decades. We sat down with Andy Chan, who has volunteered there … Continue reading Interview with A Voice From Prison