Women's Prison Book Project

Last updated
Women's Prison Book Project
AbbreviationWPBP
Formation1994
Legal statusNonprofit organization
Location
Website https://wpbp.org/

The Women's Prison Book Project (WPBP) is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that provides free books to women, trans, and nonbinary people who are incarcerated in state and federal prisons across the United States. [1] [2] [3] The organization is based in Minneapolis, MN.

Contents

WPBP is one of dozens of books-to-prisoners organizations in the US, but one of only three that focuses on serving women, along with its sister project Chicago Books to Women in Prison and the NC Women's Prison Book Project. [4]

In addition to sending books to women in prison, the organization aims to educate people about the prison system. [5]

History

Women's Prison Book Project was founded in 1994 in Minneapolis, [6] and incorporated as a nonprofit in Minnesota in 2000. [7] The organization was initially located in the basement of a volunteer. Since then, it has been located at several places in Minneapolis, including Arise Bookstore, [8] Boneshaker Books, [9] [10] SOCO Commons, and Center of Belonging. [11]

For the organization's 25th anniversary in 2019, WPBP brought journalist and activist Victoria Law, author of Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women (2009, 2012), to the Twin Cities for several events. [6]

WPBP was named a Changemaker by Minnesota Women's Press in 2004. [12]

Sourcing books

Women's Prison Book Project relies on donated books. The organization holds book drives and accepts donated books from community members, bookstores, and community organizations. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

The organization partners with several local bookstores to collect donated books, including Magers & Quinn, Black Garnet Books, Moon Palace Books, [21] and Boneshaker Bookstore. [22] [23]

WPBP also receives financial donations from individuals and community groups - including an annual pancake breakfast - which are used towards postage and books. [24] [25]

Volunteers

WPBP relies on volunteers, who work every Sunday to respond to requests and send books. [26] [27]

WPBP also partners with local organizations, including service learning courses for high school and university students. [28] [29] [30]

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References

  1. ↑ Havens, Chris (2013-04-24). "South teacher honored for anti-racism work". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  2. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project | Prison Activist Resource Center". www.prisonactivist.org. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  3. ↑ Zoukis, Christopher (2023-07-16). "Women's Prison Book Project". Zoukis Consulting Group. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  4. ↑ "Books to Prisoners Programs". Prison Book Program. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  5. ↑ REPORT, TIMES STAFF. "5 things to do this week: Oct. 23-27". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  6. 1 2 "Victoria Law visits Twin Cities to celebrate 25 years of the Women's Prison Book Project – Southside Pride". 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  7. ↑ "Business Filing Details". mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  8. ↑ "Sources for Donating Books to Prison Libraries & Law Libraries" (PDF). American Association of Law Libraries. July 2005. Retrieved 10 Dec 2024.
  9. ↑ "Indie Bookstore Day: Where to go, what to read". MPR News. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  10. ↑ Hertzel, Laurie (2020-04-17). "Nonprofit bookstore Boneshaker Books crowdfunds enough cash to reopen". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  11. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project". Center of Belonging. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  12. ↑ "Legacy Story: Changemakers 1989-2023". Minnesota Women's Press. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  13. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project - Minneapolis - c/o Boneshaker Books". RE:Source. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  14. ↑ Bichel, Hal (2023-12-26). "The Twin Cities Geek 2023 Holiday Toy & Book Drive Was a HUGE SUCCESS!". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  15. ↑ "LibGuides: Book Donation Programs: Donating to Prison Libraries". libguides.ala.org. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  16. ↑ Stone, Becky (2015-09-03). "Donate Your Books to Prisons: What, Why, and How". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  17. ↑ "11 Ways You Can Actually Help Women In Prison, Because 'Orange Is The New Black' Hints At A Troubling Reality". Bustle. 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  18. ↑ Bichel, Hal (2024-11-13). "The Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive Plans for the Future". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  19. ↑ Vasaly, Madeleine (2023-04-24). "The MN Guide to Independent Bookstore Day 2023". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  20. ↑ Tom (2024-07-08). "Where & How to Donate Books to Prisons". Local Book Donations. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  21. ↑ "Moon Palace Books". moonpalacebooks.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  22. ↑ "About". Boneshaker Books. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  23. ↑ "Donate Books". 2015-04-26. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  24. ↑ Regan, Sheila (2022-09-06). "Ellen Hart to be honored at upcoming world mystery book convention in Minneapolis". MinnPost. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  25. ↑ Harbison, Robyn (2023-04-06). "Women's Prison Book Project Sale and Brunch". Women Against Military Madness. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  26. ↑ "Mad? Sad? Motivated? 60+ MN Orgs Working to Make the Next 4 Years (and Then Some) Suck Less. - Racket". racketmn.com. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  27. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project Volunteer Opportunities - VolunteerMatch". volunteermatch.org. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  28. ↑ "St. Kate's recognizes students and programs that develop leadership and community-building skills at Campus Compact Awards - | St. Catherine University". www.stkate.edu. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  29. ↑ Collins, Dave. "All Guides: Incarceration (Un)Interrupted: Reclaiming Bodies, Lands, and Communities: Related Events & Resources". libguides.macalester.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  30. ↑ Newsletter, CCCE. "ACE Collaboration: Nonfiction Filmmaking and the Women's Prison Book Project - Carleton College". carleton.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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