On September 20th, 2014, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center hosted the Books to Prisoners 10,000 Book Party. Books to Prisoners has been shipping books to Illinois prisoners for years and this month, they have reached 10,000 books.
The celebration had live music, food, and local people in the community spoke about their experiences with Books to Prisoners. It was a joyous occasion to celebrate the achievements of Champaign-Urbana’s Books to Prisoners organization.
Books to Prisoners is a well-known organization throughout the Champaign-Urbana community, and a operates out of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. They created and staff the Champaign County Jail library and coordinate displays of prisoners artwork.
Ten years ago, founder Radam Davis decided to start a project donating books. Prisons and their lack of libraries and resources for books kept coming up in conversation. Davis began corresponding with prisoners in Illinois and sending them books they requested.
“At first, we just sent out one or five books a week. It is inspiring and emotional to see it grow this big,” Davis says.
Jay Schubert, who is greatly involved with Books to Prisoners and is a board member of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, says this organization is a great way to help the community. “We have to keep in mind that prisoners come back from prison. They are apart of our community and corresponding with them and sending them books is a way to keep them a part of the community,” Schubert says.
Books to Prisoners only sends books to prisons in Illinois. “Focusing on Illinois allows us to do one thing every well. Doing this around the United States would be too difficult,” Schubert explains.
Suzanne Linder, another core volunteer of Books to Prisoners, says “Volunteering for this organization brings people together and helps you understand that prisoners are apart of our community. Books to Prisoners offers quality volunteer opportunities.”
Without volunteers, Books to Prisoners wouldn’t exist. Volunteers correspond with prisoners, package and send books to the prisoners who request them, and keeps the Books to Prisoners library organized. Volunteers are what keeps this organization alive.
“The community looks to warehouse criminals, but they come back. The incarcerated are also a part of the community. This organization is essential for the mental and emotional well-being of our community,” says Linder.
Schubert reminds us that this isn’t just about sending as many books as possible. He says this is an important way to be educated about prisoners and their experiences in prison. “Through corresponding with these prisoners, we are reminded that they are people, too.”
Everyone involved in this organization agree that volunteering is a humbling experience. Books to Prisoners are always welcoming donations and volunteers of all ages and abilities.
Anyone can volunteer at Books to Prisoners, located at 202 S. Broadway in Urbana. Volunteering hours are Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., Thursdays from 2-4 p.m., and Saturdays from 2-4 p.m.