PHOTOS: Seattle's Books to Prisoners Opens in New Space

On Friday, November 22, Books to Prisoners in Seattle welcomed the community into their new space, offering a tour and sharing their history.

The organization whose mission is to “ foster a love of reading behind bars, encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-empowerment, and break the cycle of recidivism” receives over a thousand requests for books each month from prisoners all over the United States.

The mostly volunteer-run organization accepts donations of books and money. They have several affiliated organizations including Portland Books To Prisoners. 

A volunteer reads a letter from a prisoner requesting a book  November 22, during an open house at the new location of Books to Prisoners. (photo by Susan Fried)
In 2015, the City of Seattle recognized Books to Prisoners as a Human Rights Leader.

If interested in volunteering or donating visit their website at www.bookstoprisoners.net.

A book shelf in the new headquarters of Books for Prisoners contains some of the most popular requests from Prisoners. (photo by Susan Fried)Books To Prisoners is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a love of reading behind bars, encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-empowerment, and break the cycle of recidivism. They believe that books are tools for learning and for opening minds to new ideas and possibilities, and engage incarcerated individuals with the benefits of reading by mailing tens of thousands of free books to inmates across the country each year.