In the News

Aug 141 min read

"How Books Can Change Lives Behind Bars"

Tyler Gleckler of the podcast Wiser Tomorrow interviews Andy Chan of Books to Prisoners. Tyler asks thoughtful questions. He gives Andy...

Feb 28, 20231 min read

How the pandemic changed the volunteer experience at Books to Prisoners

Seattle Now is a weekday podcast produced by public radio station KUOW. Beginning at six minutes, board member Andy Chan describes how we...

May 31, 20221 min read

"Malcolm X Not Allowed" (8 articles)

In December 2021, we received a package that had been refused by the mailroom at the South Central Correctional Center in Clifton,...

Sep 22, 20211 min read

Accessing Information While Incarcerated, featuring Michelle Dillon

Episode 3 of the Restricted Reading Podcast Series on Kouvenda Media "Michelle Dillon, volunteer and board member for Books to Prisoners...

Apr 30, 20211 min read

"Iowa State Prisons Ban Family Members, Third Parties From Sending Books To Inmates"

Iowa Public Radio cites Books to Prisoners and other advocates of incarcerated people's right to read, as well as friends and family...

Feb 3, 20201 min read

Books to Prisoners receives the 2020 Prowda Literary Champion Award

Seattle Arts and Lectures (SAL) chose Books to Prisoners to receive the 2020 Prowda Literary Champion Award. From their site, "The Prowda...

Jun 1, 20191 min read

2019 - Books to Prisoners Challenges WA DOC Book Ban (8 articles)

In March 2019, the Washington State Department of Corrections (WA DOC) prohibited state prisons from accepting used books mailed to...

Nov 27, 20171 min read

2007-2017 Books to Prisoners News Roundup (7 articles)

Books are a Lifeline to Prisoners, June 2017, Forward Reviews The Freedom of Reading, October 2016, American Libraries Criminal Justice...

Jan 13, 20131 min read

2012 Letter Total

For the first time since records have been kept, BTP has received fewer letters than the year before. BTP received 13,566 letters in 2012...

Oct 18, 20121 min read

BTP wins 'Light a Fire' Award

Books to Prisoners has won a ‘Light a Fire’ award from Seattle Met magazine and the Seattle Foundation. The magazine wanted to highlight...

Aug 5, 20120 min read

Reading through a Whole Sentence

Jul 14, 20122 min read

The U.S.’s growing for-profit detention system

In a new study, the investigative journalism group ProPublica reports on the shocking growth of the private detention industry. More than...

Jul 9, 20121 min read

No lunch for Texas prisoners

Like many Hollywood movies, it leaves you feeling that life in prison just isn’t all that challenging. As a former Texan and someone who...

Jun 30, 20121 min read

Redemptive Reading

Just read a fascinating article on a novel approach (pun intended) to prisoner rehabilitation in Brazil involving reading. Check it out:...

May 21, 20121 min read

BTP wins okay to send used books to Washington women’s prison

Women prisoners in Washington state BTP is working hard to get used books into WA prisons. In 2009 the Olympia BTP branch talked with the...

Apr 5, 20121 min read

Hieroglyphics turn prisoner away from a life of crime

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Feb 1, 20121 min read

Listen Now: KBCS interview

Andy Chan interviewed by public radio station KBCS “One World Report” at KBCS Radio, Bellevue College, asked BTP president Andy Chan to...

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