Thanks to You
Looking back at a few recent letters of thanks that illuminate the purpose and power of Books Beyond Bars.
With the holiday season upon us, we wanted to share a few excerpts from letters we have received that underscore the importance of providing books to incarcerated individuals. These letters are a testament to the transformative power of the printed word, and to the many ways in which BBB supports the imagination, education, and goals of people confined to prisons and jails.
J.M. shared a beautiful account of what it’s like to receive books from BBB:
“An officer, pushing a cart, stopped at the window of this cell I inhabit. ‘Grab a pen,’ he said. As I threw back the blanket and got up, reaching for my pen, I heard the dry crinkling of a paper bag being…shifted? Opened? Then, as I was approaching the cell door, pen in hand, the feed-up, hatch (slot) slid back, the paper bag made some more noises, the CO (Corrections Officer) let out a “whoa!” and I heard a heavy thunk—just as I reached the window.
Curiosity aflutter, stretching my neck up so that I could see down to the cart, I glimpsed the biggest book I’ve ever possessed! With a smaller thunk, another book fell from the bag on top of the first. I could see that it was black. Also, that it said ‘Law Dictionary.’ Pressing a package-receipt form through the slot, the CO indicated with a finger on the page: ‘signature.’ I signed, two books, were passed though the slot… I’m very flabbergasted, just saying thank you felt so… inadequate! A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual and, a Barron’s Law Dictionary!!”
M.B. requested books to empower fellow incarcerated Native Americans and establish a Native American library:
“I am an incarcerated Native American here at [this prison]. I am also the facilitator for the Native American program here at [this prison]. My fellow Native inmates and I have been trying to find the Iroquois Creation Story… If we can acquire the following books, we can have a reading and learning session. And we might add this to our private library of Native history and Native stories.”
S.C. told us what our books meant when the correctional officers’ strike took away library access:
“Thank you so much for the last book you sent—I’ve been waiting patiently for it and praying that you would find it because it was the last one in the trilogy I was reading. So thank you so very much all you guys and gals that send me books; they are a blessing. I love to read and get lost in a good book for hours, so thanks for making that happen for me. You kept me reading with some great books throughout the correctional officers’ strike when we had no library.”
S.B. explained what our services mean to people with no support on the outside:
“I want to say thank you for everything you do for us incarcerated individuals. It means a lot to us. I really don’t have anyone by my side this time around. To some of us, y’all are all we got.”
S.T. described the instrumental role that books have played in her personal growth:
“Before coming to prison I could have sworn I was a good person and bad things just happened to me. Through reading books, I am in the process of learning how to reinvent myself, how to live free of judgement and baggage through forgiveness. Yesterday I finished reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, a book I’d never heard of until coming to [this prison]. Please help me on my quest to live a meaningful life, to heal myself and others through wisdom and knowledge.”
S.F. explains the importance of books in his reentry planning:
“I really don’t have anything to do with my spare time and I would love to read something that is positive and get myself on the right path when I return to the city. I plan on being the best me possible and aim to stay on track in life being a better role model to my kids, make my mom proud, and give a smile to my grandmother in heaven.”
Our work changes lives, but we can’t do it alone. This holiday season, we hope you will consider supporting the work we do by making a donation. Happy Holidays!