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

Meet Sydney, Volunteer of the Month, December 2022

Sydney began volunteering with Books to Prisoners in June. She comes in several times a month to wrap packages of books prisoners have requested. “Very focused, but really pleasant to be around”, according to BtP board member Andy, who often hosts the Tuesday night volunteer shift. Sydney has offered to use her experience applying for … Continue reading Meet Sydney, Volunteer of the Month, December 2022

We’re still open – and we’re all volunteers again, for now!

With apologies for the radio silence, we are alive! As 2021 progressed and we slowly rolled back our COVID restrictions, keeping the blog up-to-date fell to the wayside - but rest assured that we are still around, still kicking, and still sending books to people behind bars. COVID - for those of us who are … Continue reading We’re still open – and we’re all volunteers again, for now!