Providence Books Through Bars

Books Through Bars sends free books to prisoners nationwide and encourages a creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, thereby educating those living inside and outside of prison walls.

Description:
We believe that literacy and access to reading materials are crucial for the personal, spiritual, and political development of all people. With over 2 million people locked up in our nation’s federal and state prisons, and with the privatization of building and running these prisons, education programs are being drastically cut. The need for this service has never been greater.

Education is the only tool proven to help prevent people from returning to prison again and again. Prisoners writing to Books Through Bars say they have little access to educational opportunities. Most prisons provide GED programming, but many prisoners remain on waiting lists for several years before they can enroll. Prisoners housed in segregation units are unable to participate in any classes or programs. Prison libraries tend to be under-funded, lacking in educational books or contain books that are decades old. Prisons won’t allow individuals to send book packages – they must come from a publisher or bookstore – so concerned citizens have started prison book programs all over the country.

Our regular book-packing sessions, at the parish house, are on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The address is 3 Bell Street, Providence. We read letters from prisoners, pick out books, and pack them for mailing. Each package contains two to four books. We receive book request letters daily through Myopic Books, and at times are many months behind on filling them. We also need people during the week to mail the packages, sort donated books, pick up donations and supplies, etc.

History:
The Providence Group, a grassroots all-volunteer organization, has been in existence for 5 years. It is currently located in the parish house of Bell Street Chapel, off Broadway, in Providence. Our requests from prisoners come to us through Myopic Books, also in Providence. Our entire library is donated. We are now listed on the national map on Philadelphia’s booksthroughbars.org website, and will soon have our own website up and running. We are also in the process of applying for our 501(c)(3) status.

Contact person: Carol Wiseman, Project Leader, (401) 461-6903, (email)

Office fax number: (401) 461-6903

Address:

c/o Bell Street Chapel Parish House, 3 Bell Street Providence, RI 02908 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

(from downtown Providence) Take Broadway to Bell Street Take a right onto Bell Street, 3 Bell Street is on your right, parking is in the rear (driveway just past the house). Use the front door.   Nearest Bus Stop: Broadway, (5?) minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	No
Interests Served:
	Helping People in Crisis
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No
What type of organization
	Other

Last updated on September 11, 2009