Chicago Books to Women in Prison

For half the year, from mid-March to mid-September, we had to close due to COVID-19. After reopening, we had to cut the number of hours per week and the number of volunteers per shift. With lockdowns prevalent in prisons across the country, books are both harder to come by for those inside and needed more than ever.

This year, we mailed 1,964 orders of books and composition books to women and trans people in prisons across the country. In addition, in the spring we provided 1,600 sets of composition books, crayon packs, and folders to the women at Logan Correctional Center in Illinois. And in August, October, and December, we made three large bulk deliveries to the women’s division of Cook County Jail in Chicago—approximately 600 books and 700 composition books in all.

One bright spot amid the challenges has been adapting our processes in creative ways to help us do more within our current restraints. And watch for more news about how we plan to do more in providing mutual aid to people in prison in 2021 and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who’s been with us in one way or the other in this difficult year—volunteering, donating money or books, amplifying us on social media, and more. The challenges and uncertainties remain, of course, and we hope you’ll continue your support.

This year, Chicago Zine Fest is all online—you know why!—and we’re delighted to participate again in this celebration of small press and independent publishers. We’re featuring three zines at #CZF2020 and all are available at our online store. (Our store is still open even though Chicago Zine Fest is over.)

• Bound Struggles A collection of poetry, stories, essays, and drawings by incarcerated women across the country, featuring an introduction by Chicago-based prison abolitionist Monica Cosby. 50 pages; 7″ x 9″; black and white.
• Stuff Found in Books #1 Since most of our books are donated, we find some interesting things tucked between the pages. Take a look at a small selection in this zine. 36 pages, including front and back covers; quarter-size; full color.
• Library Stories #1—Sometimes we’re asked, Aren’t there libraries in prison? See some of the notes we often get on the extremely limited access to books in prison. 40 pages, including front and back covers; quarter-size; black and white.

Shop for zines at our online store.

In this age of COVID-19, to protect the health of volunteers and the greater community, we’re closed in compliance with the stay-at-home order for Illinois. 

We’re keeping up with mail and urgent tasks, but please, no drop-off book donations. If you would like to mail us books, email us first at chicagobwp@gmail.com. 

Questions? Please ask. Thanks for your ongoing support and stay safe.

Update in September: We’re back to fulfilling requests for books and composition books from women and trans people locked up across the country, but with greatly reduced capacity due to the need for social distancing, limited access to our space, and other precautions. We still ask that you check with us before donating books. Thank you for your continued support at this time.

Friday, June 1
6–8 pm (program begins at 6:30)

Uncharted Books
2620 N. Milwaukee Ave.
(directly across from the Logan Square Blue Line station)

Join us in celebrating Bound Struggles, our 56-page collection of writing and art by incarcerated women across the country. Enjoy readings by volunteers and the opportunity to learn more about our work and the importance of books in prison.

Copies of Bound Struggles available for purchase
(If you don’t live nearby, copies are available by mail for $10 including postage.)

Refreshments and snacks

Get the details on our Facebook event page.

Left to right: Carmen Berry, Facility Administrator; Bonnie Plude, Dietitian; Valerie Cox, Administrative Assistant; Vicki White and Betsy Nore, CBWP; Tanya DePeiza, Social Worker; and Aona Anderson, RN

Recently we were honored with a gift of $1,000 from the DaVita Dialysis Center in Country Club Hills, Illinois. DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc. is a leading provider of kidney care services. Through the annual DaVita Way of Giving, DaVita clinical facilities across the country are empowered to choose non-profit organizations in their communities to receive charitable contributions.

We receive hundreds of letters each month from incarcerated women requesting books and blank journals. As word spreads and the need continues to grow, the volume of letters increases too. This generous donation will let us mail hundreds of more packages of books and blank journals more quickly.

Thank you to everyone at DaVita on behalf of the women we serve.