Women's Prison Book Project

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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] Established in 199r, the organization is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [4]

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. [5]

In addition to sending books to women in prison, the organization aims to educate people about the prison system. [6]

History

Women's Prison Book Project was founded in 1994 in Minneapolis, [7] and incorporated as a nonprofit in Minnesota in 2000. [8] 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, [9] Boneshaker Books, [10] [11] SOCO Commons, and Center of Belonging. [12]

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. [7]

WPBP was named a Changemaker by Minnesota Women's Press in 2004. [13]

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. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

The organization partners with several local bookstores to collect donated books, including Magers & Quinn, Black Garnet Books, Moon Palace Books, [22] and Boneshaker Bookstore. [23] [24]

WPBP also receives financial donations from individuals and community groups - including an annual pancake breakfast - which are used towards postage and books. [25] [26]

Volunteers

WPBP relies on volunteers, who work every Sunday to respond to requests and send books. [27] [28]

WPBP also partners with local organizations, including service learning courses for high school and university students. [29] [30] [31]

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References

  1. ↑ Havens, Chris (April 24, 2013). "South teacher honored for anti-racism work". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project | Prison Activist Resource Center". www.prisonactivist.org. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. ↑ Zoukis, Christopher (July 16, 2023). "Women's Prison Book Project". Zoukis Consulting Group. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ Elejalde-Ruiz, Alexia (March 31, 2013). "Turning the page: Book program shines light into female inmates' dark days". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Books to Prisoners Programs". Prison Book Program. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  6. ↑ REPORT, TIMES STAFF. "5 things to do this week: Oct. 23-27". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Victoria Law visits Twin Cities to celebrate 25 years of the Women's Prison Book Project – Southside Pride". September 3, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Business Filing Details". mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Sources for Donating Books to Prison Libraries & Law Libraries" (PDF). American Association of Law Libraries. July 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Indie Bookstore Day: Where to go, what to read". MPR News. May 1, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ Hertzel, Laurie (April 17, 2020). "Nonprofit bookstore Boneshaker Books crowdfunds enough cash to reopen". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project". Center of Belonging. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Legacy Story: Changemakers 1989-2023". Minnesota Women's Press. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project - Minneapolis - c/o Boneshaker Books". RE:Source. February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ Bichel, Hal (December 26, 2023). "The Twin Cities Geek 2023 Holiday Toy & Book Drive Was a HUGE SUCCESS!". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ "LibGuides: Book Donation Programs: Donating to Prison Libraries". libguides.ala.org. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ Stone, Becky (September 3, 2015). "Donate Your Books to Prisons: What, Why, and How". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ "11 Ways You Can Actually Help Women In Prison, Because 'Orange Is The New Black' Hints At A Troubling Reality". Bustle. July 27, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ Bichel, Hal (November 13, 2024). "The Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive Plans for the Future". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ Vasaly, Madeleine (April 24, 2023). "The MN Guide to Independent Bookstore Day 2023". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ Tom (July 8, 2024). "Where & How to Donate Books to Prisons". Local Book Donations. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Moon Palace Books". moonpalacebooks.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  23. ↑ "About". Boneshaker Books. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Donate Books". April 26, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  25. ↑ Regan, Sheila (September 6, 2022). "Ellen Hart to be honored at upcoming world mystery book convention in Minneapolis". MinnPost. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Harbison, Robyn (April 6, 2023). "Women's Prison Book Project Sale and Brunch". Women Against Military Madness. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Mad? Sad? Motivated? 60+ MN Orgs Working to Make the Next 4 Years (and Then Some) Suck Less. - Racket". racketmn.com. November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Women's Prison Book Project Volunteer Opportunities - VolunteerMatch". volunteermatch.org. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  29. ↑ "St. Kate's recognizes students and programs that develop leadership and community-building skills at Campus Compact Awards - | St. Catherine University". www.stkate.edu. April 30, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  30. ↑ Collins, Dave. "All Guides: Incarceration (Un)Interrupted: Reclaiming Bodies, Lands, and Communities: Related Events & Resources". libguides.macalester.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  31. ↑ Newsletter, CCCE. "ACE Collaboration: Nonfiction Filmmaking and the Women's Prison Book Project - Carleton College". carleton.edu. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
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