| Happy 40th Birthday to PBP! | | SENDING BOOKS TO PRISONER SINCE 1972
 2012 marks 40 years of sending books to prisoners. While many may dread a "birthday with a zero," we plan to celebrate all year long! For those unfamiliar with our story, PBP began as project at the Red Book Store in Cambridge in 1972. Over the next four decades, we grew into the oldest and largest program of its kind in the country.
"Generations" of volunteers and core members have come and gone many times, but the ideals continue to inspire and inform. Stay tuned for more news on upcoming celebrations. Please consider making a "birthday gift" to Prison Book and help us reach a record number of people in this special year! |
| World Book Night | | REGISTER FOR FREE BOOKS FOR PBP!
 On April 23rd one million books (certain selected titles from sponsoring publishers) will be given away across the US. Although Prison Book Program is not officially affiliated with this event, as a supporter of PBP you can help us benefit from this book giveaway!
Please register on the World Book Night website to be a "Giver" ...(deadline is this Wednesday - Feb 1) and tell your story of how you want to give books to prisoners through Prison Book Program. If you're selected as a Giver, you will be asked to pick up 20 copies of one of the participating books from a local bookstore, which you can in turn bring to PBP. There are lots of great choices on the list! Spread the word! Thanks for your support. |
| Book Drive Update | | 10,000 BOOKS COLLECTED
 PBP held its 5th annual book drive back in November. Thanks to many donors, we collected over 10,000 books. More than 50 boxes went to PBP's shelves. The rest were sold by Better World Books to benefit PBP and the City Mission Society. Thanks again to everyone to donated books or volunteered that day!
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Virtual Dictionary Drive Update
| | DICTIONARIES ALREADY FLYING OFF THE SHELVES
 | | 1000 dictionaries arrive in 42 boxes and one palate. |
Thanks to the many generous people who supported our "virtual" dictionary drive, we were able to purchase 1000 college-level dictionaries. They arrived just after New Year's and are already flying off the shelves. A big thank you to everyone who supported the drive!
A prisoner from Florida received a dictionary from our last purchase and wrote us this note:
"I was unexpectedly called to the prison property room to pick up a package. I wasn't expecting anything so I was greatly surprised to find not just a dictionary, but a very large American Century dictionary in pristine condition. I am very grateful that I even received a dictionary, let alone such a nice one. I consider it a real blessing from God and I appreciate the work you do. Please keep up the good work and know that it is appreciated." |
| GED Program Update | |
 We have now given away more than half of the GED books funded by our special Better World Books LEAP grant from last Spring. We will continue to send out the books until we exhaust the grant fund! Here is a quote from a letter we received from a participating prisoner in AZ when he heard about our program:
"I am willing and dedicated to receive my GED, that is my goal... Education is the most important thing in life to be successful. In this facility, I am not allowed to attend school. The reason I am not allowed is because I am not special ed. I am only 19 years old, I have begged and begged to be let to go to school... So I decided to take matters into my own hands and study as much as I could so when I get released I'll take the test. I have tried to find programs that will let me do the test through the mail, but I haven't had [any] luck. And now I have found you. I appreciate it so much that you are willing to help me achieve my goal to be successful in life and get my GED. Thank you."
We are also beginning the process of following up with the recipients who got the books at least 6 months ago to find out if they have taken the GED exam, how their preparations are coming, and how having a GED will impact their life on the outside. More to come as we learn how preparing for and taking the GED exam impacts these prisoners' lives. |
| PBP on Boston Neighborhood Network | | CHRIS LOVETT INTERVIEWS PBP's CHRISTINE O'NEILL
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| Prisoner Book Review: Atlas Shrugged | | |
BY JEFFREY WATSON, DALLAS, PA
Although it was published in 1957, it was only recently that I read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The story is set in the United States, sometime in the future. It involves a government regulated transcontinental railroad and a libertarian group seeking to free the railroad from "the pressures and restrictions of massive bureaucracy." Later in the story, we encounter a utopian community whose members regard self-determination, rather than collective responsibility, as the highest ideal.
I strongly disagree with Ms. Rand's philosophy of total, unhindered individualism being the key to ultimate success. People need to be able to depend on one another in order to function as a society. However, I have to admit, I enjoy her books immensely. This novel is highly imaginative and very well written. The story moves at a quick pace; and despite the lofty size of this tome, it has few if any slow spots. |
| Prisoner Poetry: Lightening | | |
BY QA-UI, INA, IL
LIGHTENING
Lightening penetrates the temple of a sleeping giant
Wakening him out of his state of unconsciousness
So that he may recognize his potential
In the face of difficulties
As obstacles are overcome
I may not have the greatest story to ever be told
"But it sure is interesting"
He spoke to no one in particular
Scrambling for a pen and sheet of paper
Transferring that lightening into a written idea
That even if read by a few
Could reach many through word of mouth
Because not only would this be his story
Others would intertwine with it
When this lightening converted into the energy needed
To conjure up the courage
That'll reveal the uniqueness in everyone created
As this lightening could lead the way
Or be destructive
Which will this lightening be for you
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| Support PBP | |
Every $3 pays postage for a shipment of books! Make an online donation today! 
The Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. |
| Prisoner Resources | | PLEASE PRINT AND SHARE THESE RESOURCES
WITH YOUR LOVED ONES IN PRISON
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| Volunteer Hours | |
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Select Saturdays
10am-4pm
February 18th
March 10th April 21st May 12th |
| Stats | | |
Year to Date
Stats
Prisoners served: 420
Books sent: 840
Volunteer sessions:
108 |
| Thank You Volunteers! | | |
MANY MANY THANKS TO OUR RECENT VOLUNTEERS!
APO - Boston University
Boston Cares
Boston Cares - Teamworks
Boston University - I Embrace U
Bunker Hill Community College
Eastern Nazarene College
Imagine - Emerson College
Newton South High School
Northeastern University
Park Street Church
Suffolk University
Winchester Connect
... and numerous dedicated individuals! |
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| Archive | | |
Check out past issues of PBP's newsletter on our website |
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