For many incarcerated individuals, education serves as a critical factor in the journey toward a successful reintegration into society.
A 2013 Rand Corporation study highlights the role of education in reducing recidivism rates, a finding echoed by Dr. Tom Haney, president of Books Through Bars (BTB) in Philadelphia.
He emphasizes, “Education is one of the major problems for people who are incarcerated.
It’s one of the major problems for people getting into trouble. And as all the results and studies have shown, while a person is incarcerated, if they can educate themselves, they will come out and do far better on the streets than they did previously.”
Books Through Bars stands out by sending free books to individuals incarcerated in the mid-Atlantic region.
For Mark Loughney, a former inmate at the State Correctional Institute in Dallas, Pennsylvania, books offered an essential escape and source of knowledge.
“I just needed some art and science books,” he recalls.
“I needed something to keep my mind occupied.”
Loughney received multiple book packages from BTB during his time in prison, and he reflects on the dual role of education in his life—academic and mental.
“Part of the importance of this program is just knowing that there’s something coming and someone is thinking of me and cares about my education and wants me to be enlightened a bit,” he shared.
The initiative began in the late 1980s when a publishing company began receiving letters from inmates requesting books.
As explained by Haney, the company lacked the resources to fulfill these requests, leading several employees to establish Books Through Bars in 1987.
They pooled their resources to acquire the books that inmates sought, effectively transforming a grassroots effort into a formal nonprofit organization by 1991.
The process of fulfilling book requests is crucial, especially considering research indicating that participation in correctional education programs reduces the likelihood of returning to prison by 43%.
However, access to educational materials in prisons is often limited.
Haney notes that many prisoners describe the libraries in their facilities as “inadequate and inaccessible,” which drives their requests to BTB.
The volume of letters received is staggering, according to Haney, who illustrates the scale by saying, “If you can imagine holding your thumb and your finger about a half inch apart, that’s pretty much the number of envelope requests that we get every single week.”
BTB employs a system where volunteers, known as “letter loggers,” sort through incoming letters.
Requests from prisoners in states that BTB doesn’t serve are redirected to similar organizations, ensuring that as many requests as possible are still addressed.
Once sorted, requests are assigned a tracking ticket that helps keep the process organized.
Volunteers then search through BTB’s library to find suitable books based on the requested topics rather than specific titles.
Haney explains, “We oftentimes tell inmates to request a topic rather than a specific book.”
This flexibility is necessary, especially because the books are primarily donated and specific titles may not always be available.
For instance, if an inmate asks for a book by Stephen King, the volunteers will look for another horror author to send instead.
Stephanie Riley, a volunteer at Books Through Bars, offers insight into the types of books commonly requested.
She mentions, “People always ask, ‘What kind of books do you need for Books Through Bars, and what kind of books do people ask for?’”
The answer is reflective of what might be found on the shelves of a public library—fiction, non-fiction, educational materials, and more.
Riley emphasizes the importance of viewing incarcerated individuals as people rather than statistics or stereotypes.
“There’s a lot of ‘othering’ historically,” she notes, encouraging empathy toward those who find themselves enmeshed in the criminal justice system.
Janet Bowker, a volunteer from Overbrook Presbyterian Church, describes the emotional toll of sometimes being unable to fulfill a specific book request due to prison regulations.
“To hear that you can’t send this kind of a book or you can’t send a hardback, it’s just very disturbing at times,” she said.
Yet, she finds solace in knowing that their efforts are, in some way, addressing a significant need.
Loughney’s experience further underscores the gap in resources within prison facilities.
He reflects, “There was a very limited selection of books and visual materials inside the prison law library.
The Books Through Bars books I received were kind of an oasis.”
Haney emphasizes the educational value of the books that BTB distributes, highlighting the demand for dictionaries and legal resources.
“Dictionaries are the number one requested book,” he said.
In addition to general dictionaries, BTB purchases legal and medical dictionaries to cater to the diverse needs of inmates.
This focus on educational materials has gained even more significance during the COVID-19 pandemic, which amplified challenges related to access to educational and recreational resources in prisons.
With alarming statistics indicating that three out of five American prisoners cannot read, the mission to provide access to books has never been more crucial.
Haney elaborates on the variety of genres offered by BTB, responding to an evolving demand for popular authors and topics.
The organization strives to maintain a collection that resonates with the interests of incarcerated individuals.
Loughney, now working in the art community, attributes his success to the skills he honed through the educational resources provided by BTB.
“I was able to learn through the books that they sent me about art,” he said.
“I learned about how to make art and art history and science, things that inform my craft.”
Riley also underscores the necessity of books as a form of escapism for those incarcerated.
“There is that other side of the coin, which is providing more of an escape and a release for people and giving people an outlet,” she said.
This function of books supports mental health in an often dehumanizing environment.
Receiving thoughtful book selections and notes from BTB staff fosters a sense of connection and humanity, according to Riley.
She firmly believes that recognizing incarcerated individuals’ humanity should be a priority.
“It’s about seeing the person and bringing a sense of humanity to this population who are typically treated the worst in our society,” she said.
Bowker echoes this sentiment, citing the emotional fulfillment experienced by volunteers as they contribute to a cause that directly impacts inmates’ lives.
“We feel like we’ve accomplished something,” she said.
“Maybe it’s not a lot, but it’s part of just making sure that inmates get books.”
Letters from inmates reflect the profound impact that books have on their lives.
Many express that these educational resources are their primary means of learning and keeping busy during their confinement.
As Bowker states, “The letters from the inmates are very touching.
There is a lot of ‘this is my only way of learning’ or ‘this is what keeps me busy’ and so it feels like it’s an important mission in that way.”
Moving forward, Books Through Bars remains open to various forms of assistance, whether it comes in the form of physical volunteers, financial contributions, or even the donation of books and shipping supplies.
Riley summarizes the organization’s needs as the “four B’s”: books, bills, bodies, and bags or boxes.
Since BTB operates without paid staff, all donations are directed towards impactful services, such as shipping and acquiring additional books.
Haney speaks to the scale of their operations, noting the expectation to send between 7,000 to 8,000 books in the coming year.
The financial burden, particularly in terms of postage, has been significant, with a reported cost of nearly $12,000 just from January to May, covering over 11,000 pounds of books.
Bowker appreciates the dedication of volunteers who keep the organization running, describing them as inspiring and devoted.
“The people who are there when we are regularly there seem to be very devoted,” she stated.
Haney concludes by expressing gratitude for the organization’s achievements while continuing to welcome donations and volunteers for BTB’s vital mission.
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