frequently asked questions about BTP:
Where do we send books?
We send books all over the United States. We are currently the only prison book project sending books to WA state prisons.
What kind of books do people ask for?
All sorts. The most popular genre is Westerns, but we also send out just as many dictionaries and Black’s Law Dictionaries. We send testing books like GED and GRE, culturally based books, history, fiction, craft books, how-to drawing books, and the list goes on…
What do you think about prisons?
We are a collective, and made up of a diverse range of views and perspectives about the Prison Industrial Complex. What we do agree on is that people who are incarcerated have the right to access books and since that is something that we can do, we do it.
Is Books to Prisoners a literacy group?
Our organization as a whole is not a literacy based organization, we do not consider ourselves as an educational organization either, we are a solidarity organization which means we get the books that people ask for.
How does Books to Prisoners make money?
BTP has great relationships with supportive community businesses. Dumpster Values is a local thrift store. When a person goes there to sell their clothes and Dumpster Values doesn’t buy them, they can leave them in the “dollar bin” for people to buy for… A $! All of those dollars go to BTP. This is how we pay our very low rent in our space which has been provided to us by a wonderful Olympia community member. This is also how we buy our postage, and wrapping materials. Whenever possible, BTP gets things donated or finds a way to get free stuff.
We occasionally host fundraisers, and we sell T-shirts which you can look at on our website and purchase around Olympia’s small businesses including Dumpster Values.
Still curious?
Ask us your question by sending an email to us at:
btpoly[at]resist.ca
we’d love to hear from you.