š We Love Booksellers ā Episode Seven
The series continues, this time with Sarah from Books Through Bars, a Philadelphia based organization getting books into the hands of incarcerated people.
In this episode, Sarah talks about the heart behind the work and the real need for access to books, especially as resources inside prisons fall short. With the help of a huge volunteer network, Books Through Bars sends out thousands of books each year, reaching people who have no other way to access them.
Weāre so excited to share more about this incredible work and the people making it happen!
Stay tuned as we keep highlighting amazing booksellers all around! āŗļø
#philadelphia #philly #bookseller #booksthroughbars #community
Join us on Memorial Day for a packathon! Weāre starting the day with a new volunteer orientation from 11-1 (signup at booksthroughbars.org/volunteer) followed by a potluck style lunch at 1! Bring a friend and a dish for a day full of picking and packing books! Volunteers are free to drop in at any time throughout the day.
Join Books Through Bars & Hearts On A Wire on Wednesday, May 5th from 6:30-8:30 for Literary Liberation!
This is an educational event for anyone interested in low-risk advocacy for people who are incarcerated. Weāll chat about our work and then dive into volunteering tasks! Snacks & masks will be provided.
A few of our volunteers showed up for the #marchofinnocence block party last week to table as part of Mumia Week 2026. None of us are free until all of us are free! #FreeThemAll #FreeMumia #FreeMumiaAbuJamal
We asked our volunteers, what brings you to this work? Iād like to introduce more discussions about mass incarceration to the indie newsroom I created, and would like to be more educated myself.
- BTB volunteer
Thanks so much to the @pennclubphilly for coming to volunteer with us last weekend!
If you are interested in bringing a group to volunteer with us, reach out via the contact form on our website!
Saturday the 25th through Saturday May 2nd, all books bought for us from our wishlist or partner bookstores will be matched in a cash donation. This is one of the best times of the year to buy books for us!
This year, we are excited to partner with @theheadandthehand@brickbatphilly@bindlestiffbookstore@capricornbookshop@patatgiovannisroom , and the @duboisrobesonpeoplescenter ! Support both us and these awesome bookstores for independent bookstore day! You can also support us by buying from our special wishlist (link in bio)
We asked our volunteers: what brings you to this work?
I have worked within the criminal justice system for years, and, formerly, directly with incarcerated members of my community as an indigent defense attorney. I miss that aspect of my work, and I have seen firsthand the impact that organizations like this can have. Through volunteering, I hope to have a small impact on and to maybe improve someone experiencing incarcerationās day, feel as though Iām doing something tangible to subvert the purely punitive motives of the PIC, and potentially meet like-minded individuals.
- Courtney, BTB volunteer
