Books to Prisoners (Seattle)

@bookstoprisoners

Seattle nonprofit mailing free books to incarcerated people in the United States. Advocating for access to education and communication in prisons since 1973. Bookstoprisoners.net

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Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Mar 31

Prisons in New Mexico restricted incarcerated people to receive books only from approved vendors, with no clear guidance about "approved vendors". But don't worry! They can reliably get e-books on their tablets. Now, every available book was published before 1931...but they're FREE!!! (What a deal)

Excerpt from article linked in quoted post. The text of the excerpt: "Inmates were recently granted access to e-books on their tablets, but only public domain books were available, meaning that they can only access books published before 1931. The e-books are available for free, Roembach [a spokesperson for NMCD] said."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Dec 6

Friend of BTP Bill Thorness wrote a lovely profile of our organization and of Kris Fulsaas--a force of nature who has held us together for 36 years. "One guy said he gave [the book we sent] to his kids because he had nothing else to give them for Christmas" billthorness.substack.com/p/books-to-p...

A photograph of Kris Fulsaas in front of a red and white poster hanging on a white wall celebrating 50 years of operation for Books to Prisoners. Kris is smiling widely. She has a ponytail and is wearing a blue sweater and jeans.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Dec 2

In 2025, we've spent $6,500 per month to ship 35,000 pounds of books to 10,823 readers behind bars. That's a lot of stories told, skills learned, and wisdom gained. On Giving Tuesday, your gift will provide books for the next patrons. $50 reaches 9 more readers: www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-money

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Nov 27

Today, we are thankful for every time the right book from our organization finds the right person. When a book in the right hands brings joy and contemplation and growth and a reprieve from the tedium and dehumanization of incarceration. #thanksgiving

Thank you letter on lined paper handwritten to Books to Prisoners:

"12 AUG 25 To the great people who give their time, Thank you so much for the Japanese usage guide you sent. It is a wonderful reference to enhance my study of Japanese language. In learning to write letters in Japanese I have discovered that our salutations are replaced with seasonal greetings. The one included above translates to: Shoka noe yoo na atatakala ga tsuzuite orimasu, "The weather is warm, as if it were early summer." It has in fact been unbearable hot, but to complain would be rude. This book is sure to be helpful as I progress in my studies. Mazu wa o-rei made (Just to express thanks)"

Thank you letter on lined paper handwritten to Books to Prisoners:

"1/3/2025 Dear Volunteers, Happy New Year! Thank you all for the wonderful books you sent me last year. I really appreciate everything you do for guys like me. I can't wait to see what you choose for me this year. Hopefully you won't find the books I like too taxing to search for. Take care and happy hunting. You people are awesome! Your #1 fan. Books of Interest: I love graphic novels, the bigger the better. Otherwise, non-fiction only please. I'm a history nut. I love pretty much all kinds of history, ancient military all the way to modern. History books that contain lots of old photos, paintings or engravings are highly sought after. Time-Life or Nat Geo series books also wanted (no magazines). Time-Life's The Old West series is great. Coffee table books about famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci, classic cars, motorcycles, famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright's works, nature, animals, etc. Lastly, I'd love a copy of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader if you spot one. Thanks again everyone! P.S. Knowledge is to be shared not held onto. That's why I donate all the books you send me to the prison library when I finish reading them." A cartoonish smiley face is drawn at the bottom.

Typed thank you letter to Books to Prisoners:

"To The Staff: Just got the copy of "Gravity's Rainbow." You guys are too fucking cool! I've been wanting to re-read this one for some years now but I couldn't come up on a copy. How did you know to send it? The 'book gods' must be looking out for me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Please find enclosed two (2) stamps. I wish I could do more."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Oct 31

The numbers are in from Banned Books Week 2025! Together, you donated 332 paperbacks and unlocked $6,225 in matching funds to help us purchase even more books. We are so grateful for your kindness and for your unwavering commitment to the people who need these books and this program.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Oct 19

Today is the 1st day of Prison Banned Books Week, a week examining the catastrophic impact of censorship on information access in carceral facilities. Go to prisonbannedbooksweek.org for updates & actions this week, and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKS TO PEOPLE IN PRISONS GROUP via books, $, volunteering!

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Oct 11

Today, Oct. 11, is the LAST DAY of Banned Books Week 2025. Purchase 1 book for incarcerated readers from special in-store displays & online wishlists, and our patrons will receive 2 books! www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/double-... (p.s. - Left Bank Books in downtown Seattle is also participating!)

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Oct 2

Banned Books Week 2025 starts on October 5. As part of this week focusing on public actions to stop censorship, a generous donor is partnering with several Seattle-area stores to DOUBLE book donations made to Books to Prisoners! Read more on our blog: www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/double-...

Graphic for a matching grant for Banned Books Week 2025. 5 partnering bookstores are listed on top of a photo of a blue sign saying BOOKSTORE OPEN. The bookstores are: Queen Anne Book Company, Third Place Books, Phinney Books, Couth Buzzard, and Charlie's Queer Books. The graphic also lists the dates of Banned Books Week (October 5 through October 11).

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Sep 6

"How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way". A book deemed so harmful by the Florida DOC that even a review committee upheld the ban on the grounds that learning to draw comics somehow presents a threat to the safety of the prison. Even worse, per policy (p. 2), books banned like this are often destroyed.

Page 1 of a rejection letter from Florida Department of Corrections, addressed to Books to Prisoners Seattle. Dated May 2025.

Page 2 of a rejection letter from Florida Department of Corrections, addressed to Books to Prisoners Seattle. Dated May 2025.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Aug 28

Our intrepid Executive Director, Andy, wanted to give a visual representation of our current 3-month backlog of requests. We've worked to catch up since moving last year, but the unanswered letters are still as long as Andy! Can you help? Sign up to volunteer at www.bookstoprisoners.net/volunteer!

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Aug 23

Our friends at Rogue Liberation Library have begun receiving comic book rejections from FCI Marion in Illinois. Despite successful operations nationwide for 50+ years, our programs are frequently scapegoated re: contraband, and we're all frustrated about the resources we're forced to spend to fight.

Rejection letter to Rogue Liberation Library from FCI Marion, a federal prison in Marion, Illinois. The rejected book is a Batman graphic novel and the letter is dated March 24, 2025. It is typed in black ink on white paper. The reason is listed as follows:

"Due to recent attempts to introduce prohibited substances through incoming publications, we will be implementing a policy to reject incoming publications including graphic novels, manga, comics, comic-strip books, coloring books, and any other cartoon-related books."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Aug 20

Vocational training materials are some of the most impactful books that we provide upon request. These books can help people plan their futures and increase confidence about re-entry, as expressed in thank you letters like this one. Interested in helping? 📚 www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books

Handwritten letter. Black ink on white paper. Letter reads:

"I was lucky enough to be the recipient of your donated HVAC textbook. I want to write to thank you so much. I could get out in December. I was making about $14.00 an hour as unskilled labor at construction sites. With the knowledge of HVAC and other climate control skills my market value has been raised to about $20.00 an hour.

I lived in a homeless shelter in Reno, NV because $14.00 can't pay the rent, never mind other expenses. Now I can get out and make an honest living. I love doing maintenance & engineering work. Now I can have the skills with other things I study to succeed. You were a large part of that with your donation! So thank you again."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Aug 18

Organizers of the Wheel Of Time Fan Convention (for fans of the popular fantasy novels), @wotconofficial.bsky.social, raised over $2,200 for us, to fulfill 400+ requests for books! Proceeds from their post-con merch sale will help incarcerated readers and improve future con accessibility! Thank you!

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Jul 28

5 positive news pieces in our world this week: 5. Prison Banned Books Week has chosen its first recipient for the Martin Sostre Memorial Prison Books Fund: @midwestbooks2p.bsky.social Read about the Fund here: www.saxapahawprisonbooks.org/martin-sostr... (Congratulations--much deserved!) (4/4)

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 9

Thank you to everyone who supported our big ask for postage costs during #GiveBig! Your gifts will make it possible for us to mail almost 1,000 packages of books, each of which will educate, entertain, and possibly change the life of a reader in prison.

Thank you graphic from Books to Prisoners Seattle for GiveBIG. It is a slightly altered version of a previous graphic, which has the heading "SUMMER OF STAMPS". This version has text at the bottom reading "You raised postage for 996 packages!"

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 7

"Your gift to me (the books you have sent) is a gift to many! I looked around last night and realized that 9 people have a book they borrowed from me." One book sent to a prison can touch many lives. Your gift of postage can make it possible. #GiveBig for stamps at www.wagives.org/organization...

Handwritten letter, with black ink on white, lined paper, addressed to Left Bank Books. Our programs started together in 1973, and they generously continue to serve as our mailing address. Text:

"Hello Left Bank Books,

It is my pleasure to write and thank you that your gift to me (the books you have sent) is a gift to many! I looked around last night and realized that 9 people have a book they borrowed from me. And they return them only to borrow another which is my joy to be able to bless them with an escape, a treasure, a good book to provide a comfort that us "readers" know only to be found in the pages of a good book!

So I thank you Left Bank and wish you the best on life's journey! I've found in my 49 years of life that "It's the little things in life that turn out to be the big things after all!" You're a gift to mankind one book at a time; however, in my case, one book is read by countless people!! There are a couple other places who have sent me...us...with books also, and I will write my thanks to them as well. It is a good thing you guys do. Bless your hearts!

I am leaving here in August and this will be my final letter to you on this leg of my journey at least."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 6

"We will be implementing a policy to reject all incoming publications". The federal prison in Terre Haute, IN, seems to have a new ban on ALL mailed books. We provide free books to people with otherwise limited options. Fears of drug-soaked paper now used to ban our books without recourse for us.

Rejection notification from a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, dated April 25, 2025. A comic book and a coloring book are listed as rejected items. The rationale written by warden S. Merendino is: "Due to recent attempts to introduce prohibited substances through incoming publications, we will be implementing a policy to reject all incoming publications"

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 5

Beyond books, postage is our largest expense. That's why we're asking you to #GiveBig to our Summer of Stamps. $20,000 pays for 3-4 months of shipping to 3,500 incarcerated readers. Your donation of $5.71 can bring the world to someone in prison. Donate stamps at www.wagives.org/organization....

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 2

A lovely memorial to a truly generous person: Long Hair Dave, an icon in Olympia, WA, and a founder of that city's chapter of Books to Prisoners. Thank you, @filtermag.bsky.social. filtermag.org/remembering-...

Photograph of Long Hair Dave. The photograph is a still image from a video clip embedded in the Filter article. It shows a smiling man in his late 20s or 30s with long brown hair, wearing a dark colored hat and dark colored clothing. The man is sitting on a step. His right arm is raised and his left arm is moving out toward the camera; he appears to be demonstrating an action or explaining something to the camera. A chainlink fence is behind him. A backpack is resting by his feet, but only the top is visible in this photograph.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· May 1

May 5 is the last day to double your donation when you buy a book to donate to BTP. But, good news! Stores that maintain wishlists or in-store wish-tables for us make them available year-round. Find our partners at www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/find-ou.... #PrisonBooksWishlists #IndieBookstoreDay

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 28

For the ongoing #IndieBookstoreDay donation event (thru May 5), we're profiling our partner Left Bank Books! Our projects collaborated during our founding in 1973 and this store remains our shipping site. Visit LBB at 92 Pike St! Learn about our partners: www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/find-ou...

A photo of the interior of a bookstore. At the center of the photo is a vertical display of books with several rows. The floor is red. Bookshelves line the sides of the photograph. Book subjects in the central display include math books, drawing books, novels, and folk tales. A black and white laminated sign taped to the front of the display shows a graphic of a barcode and hands holding the bars in mimicry of hands holding the bars on a cell door. The sign reads "Books to Prisoners/25% OFF". A second laminated black and white sign propped in the middle of the display reads "Buy a book for a friend in prison" with smaller font explaining the partnership with Books to Prisoners.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 26

This is the 3rd year Phinney Books has partnered with us for #IndieBookstoreDay & they always craft striking displays! Come see at 7405 Greenwood Ave N., or donate from their online wishlist. Through May 5, each book you donate to BTP will be matched! Links: www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/find-ou...

Photo of a wooden table containing organized stacks of books. Books include Spanish-English dictionaries, law dictionaries, instructive drawing books, and "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander. A small chalkboard sign in the middle of the stacks reads "Donate books to Books to Prisoners". Another small orange and white paper sign nearby reads "Donate any book in the store! These are some suggestions."

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 24

Check out the in-store display @outsidercomics.com prepared for our #IndieBookstoreDay book drive! Outsider Comics is one of seven local bookstores participating in the matching-donation book drive through Monday, May 5: www.bookstoprisoners.net/post/find-ou... #PrisonBooksWishlists

Wooden bookshelf with comics and manga. Two white pieces of papers on a brown paper sign are behind the shelf. The papers describe the mission and operations of Books to Prisoners Seattle as well as the promotion for Independent Bookstore Day, which runs from April 21 through May 5. For every book purchased from the special display of books, to be donated to Books to Prisoners Seattle, a donor will match the amount of that purchase, to allow Books to Prisoners to buy even more new books to send to incarcerated readers.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 23

We reached out to our partner bookstores for photos of their in-store displays for the BTP #IndieBookstoreDay matching promo. One store responded back this morning: "We sold out of nearly everything we set out, so the table is looking sparse while we re-order." A fantastic "problem"! Keep it up! 😅

Informational flyer for Independent Bookstore Day with Books to Prisoners 2025. The flyer has white and tan rectangles on a bright orange background. The top rectangle is white and lists the dates of the promotion (April 21-May 5) and has text explaining that donations will be doubled. If you buy books from special displays and online wishlists at the seven partner bookstores listed below during those days, the purchases will be matched by a donor! Below the white rectangle is a tan rectangle listing seven bookstores (Charlie's Queer Books, Couth Buzzard, Left Bank Books, Outsider Comics, Phinney Books, Queen Anne Book Company, and Third Place Books).

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 23

Books to people in prisons programs keep expanding in more countries! Check out Buku Beyond Bars in Malaysia! says.com/my/lifestyle...

A man in a white shirt stands, holding a black and white sign reading "Buku Beyond Bars". Graphics of barbed wire are scattered around the sign. The man holds a black and yellow book, and piles of books are on a white folding table in front of him. Even more books are in white bookshelves on the edge of the room. Behind the man is a sign reading "Malaysian Cemter for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR)". The shoulders, arms, and camera of a person in a white shirt are visible on the left side of this photograph. That person appears to be taking a photograph of the man holding the yellow and black book.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Apr 16

During Independent Bookstore Day, BTP is partnering with local independent bookstores & a family foundation to bring much-needed new books to our readers. Visit stores April 21-May 5 & buy a book for BTP from BTP-specific tables/wishlists. A family foundation will MATCH the value of every purchase!

Promo for Independent Bookstore Day with list of 6 partnering bookstores.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Mar 2

A judge has granted a preliminary injunction to incarcerated plaintiffs at Tensas Parish Detention Center in Louisiana. People incarcerated there currently have access to neither mailed books nor a functional library on site. Support other incarcerated readers in Louisiana: lab2p.org/donate-now/

Excerpt from a preliminary injunction detailing failures of Tensas Parish Detention Center to allow access to reading materials. The case is Normand v. Bass et al.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Feb 12

We're taking book donations again! Check our donation guidelines (bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books) to see what we're looking for, and what we can't use. Ways to donate books to Books to Prisoners 👇

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Jan 1

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.

An open blue door, looking through to an empty room with an open orange door.

A large, empty gray room with a pile of boards on the ground.

Books to Prisoners (Seattle)@bookstoprisoners· Dec 21

Looking for a unique gift that you won't have to wrap? Michael Kramer & Kate Reading narrate audiobooks, known for The Wheel of Time series. For a donation of $50 to any prison book program, they'll record a personal message to a person of your choice: www.katereadingaudiobooks.com/books-to-pri...