Books to Prisoners (Seattle)

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) @B2PSeattle]

Twitter is decaying, so we're trying something new on Bluesky: https://t.co/5O3YdeB4du

We'll continue to post on both platforms for now (and, of course, still on Instagram & Facebook), but we hope to see you over there. Eventually, the entire wonderful community here might move.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

All that's left of our old home. The boards are going to the Ballard Tool Library.

The next time we move, let it be because the last prison has been converted into a library, and nobody needs books from us anymore.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Minnesota prisons are now banning donations of used books from programs like ours. Our groups ship thousands of free books each year upon request. If the MN DOC does not repeal this new policy, people in prisons will be cut off from these vital community connections. Please sign!

[Michael Kramer & Kate Reading @Kramer_Reading]

Please sign this petition to rescind the order not to accept book donations in MN @B2PSeattle
https://t.co/JP5xvhaQxI

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Looking for a unique gift that you won't have to wrap or mail?

@Kramer_Reading narrate audiobooks, best known for the Wheel of Time series.

With a donation of $50+ to any prison book program, they'll record a personal message for a person of your choice: https://t.co/LuhJsl75Ky

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

More coverage of a new ban on free, donated books in Minnesota prisons. This ban ends programs from community groups operating for 50 years & forces incarcerated readers to pay a month of wages for a single book. Sign the action to reverse this ban: https://t.co/jKuLCVAKcg

[KSTP @KSTP]

She explained the restrictions make it hard for her loved ones at Rush City to get the content they need, including for worship. Reading verses from religious texts can help incarcerated individuals through hard times, according to Earthman. https://t.co/HPbJhtGwdI

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Please circulate this petition to reverse a new policy in MN prisons stopping groups like Books to Prisoners from providing free books to incarcerated readers. We need signatures & more groups--especially groups based in MN--to speak against this policy:

https://t.co/jKuLCVBi1O

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

🚨 PLZ READ! PRISON BOOK PROGRAMS NEED HELP NOW!

MN DOC rolled out a policy stopping programs like Books to Prisoners from giving free books to readers in prisons. @prisonbookprog sent a letter to the DOC re: impact. While we wait for a response, circulate the petition below ⬇️

[MuckRock @MuckRock]

NEW: Prisons in New York state have used an opaque, vaguely defined process to ban hundreds of books and other texts, according to documents MuckRock obtained through open records requests, reports @Sammy_Sussman. https://t.co/Di8ZmJoSk1

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

It's that time of the year: #GivingTuesday! Your support powers free reading materials to incarcerated people across the country. We receive 1,000 requests for books every month; a gift of $25 provides books for 5 readers. Donate today or on December 3 at https://t.co/5zGzKnAjmu.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Recently, cross stitch creator The Stitch Crypt released a book of bookmark patterns, providing a copy to anyone who donated $15+ to selected nonprofits, including Books to Prisoners. In just a few weeks, this community raised enough to provide for 1,000 readers. We are in awe.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Stitch Crypt has a cool fundraiser for Books to Prisoners & select other book-focused nonprofits thru Nov. 17. Donate at least $15 to receive special bookmark cross stitch patterns. And a donor is MATCHING ALL DONATIONS to us TODAY (Nov. 14)! Learn more: https://t.co/yvGFu4zYKz

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

@AppalachianPBP @WVUPRESS So exciting!

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

And note: This is actually a better outcome than we often see!

1st: A rejection was recorded and mailed to us (not always the case).

2nd: A review committee exists in TX, ensuring a single guard or warden can't make unilateral decisions (not always the case).

The bar is LOW.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Prison censorship is often targeted to ban education & history about minority experiences. This is exemplified by the recent attempted censorship of Black Boy (Richard Wright) by a Texas prison, where the mailroom claimed the book was "written solely...to achieve...disruption".

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

@VivBlueprint Thank you so much for your support. ❤️ Your gift will help to provide packages of books to 20+ more people who are being held in prisons.

[Books to Prisoners (Seattle) @B2PSeattle]

Wiscon. prisons restrict books & mail to keep drugs out, but some staff still bring drugs in:

"This policy is another way DOC is blaming families & the people they incarcerate for the problems their staff can’t or won’t address...it’s a false narrative."

https://t.co/d0R3HvoJBM

[EveryLibrary @EveryLibrary]

Did you know there are still prison libraries without adequate funding and resources?

https://t.co/2ljcaYumhh

[Prison Banned Books Week @prisonsbanbooks]

Escaping Prison with Role-Playing Games: Listen to this episode of Imaginary Worlds Podcast where folx inside talk about how their imaginations help them mentally escape and how prison officials stop this psychic release through censorship: https://t.co/VOiBWGQiz7

[Appalachian Prison Book Project (APBP) @AppalachianPBP]

The largest book ban in the country is in our prison and jail system.

Here’s the latest example of book bans behind bars. 👇