Freebird book drive for NYC Books Through Bars
While NYC Books Through Bars operating out of Freebird's basement is currently limiting in-person volunteering and drop offs due to COVID-19, book requests continue to pour in from prisons around the country: nearly 300 per week. In response to the challenges of accepting those donations during the pandemic, we have started a monthly program in which specific, in-demand titles can be purchased through Freebird at a discount.
September's pick for NYC Books Through Bars
A mix of instructional guides to building a home, drawing from life, plucking a guitar, perfecting penmanship: $30 for three books
Following our campaign (collecting 372 books!) that collected thesauruses, foreign dictionaries (particularly of Asian and Middle Eastern languages), and ASL reference, we do an ancillary push for guidebooks. Like dictionaries, drawing instructionals are always in low supply at Books Through Bars. We again include a selection from Search Press "How to Draw in Simple Steps" (i.e. People in Action, Manga Faces, Kittens, Sea Creatures). However, something we have not done in the past is a "how to" on calligraphy or hand lettering. For anyone who has helped process requests from incarcerated readers, it becomes quickly clear that penmanship is a passion and a calling for many. Hand-Lettering for Everyone is a workbook for those wanting to improve those skills, and to find new ways to express one's self through typography. And lastly, we include a selection from the popular Idiot's Guide series (no judgment here, however) that focus on topics that incarcerated readers also inquire about with some frequency: the tiny house movement, music proficiency, and practical alchemy.
A mix of instructional guides to building a home, drawing from life, plucking a guitar, perfecting penmanship: $30 for three books
Following our campaign (collecting 372 books!) that collected thesauruses, foreign dictionaries (particularly of Asian and Middle Eastern languages), and ASL reference, we do an ancillary push for guidebooks. Like dictionaries, drawing instructionals are always in low supply at Books Through Bars. We again include a selection from Search Press "How to Draw in Simple Steps" (i.e. People in Action, Manga Faces, Kittens, Sea Creatures). However, something we have not done in the past is a "how to" on calligraphy or hand lettering. For anyone who has helped process requests from incarcerated readers, it becomes quickly clear that penmanship is a passion and a calling for many. Hand-Lettering for Everyone is a workbook for those wanting to improve those skills, and to find new ways to express one's self through typography. And lastly, we include a selection from the popular Idiot's Guide series (no judgment here, however) that focus on topics that incarcerated readers also inquire about with some frequency: the tiny house movement, music proficiency, and practical alchemy.
Hand Lettering/Idiot's Guide/How to Draw in Simple Steps
$48.00
$30.00
Freebird's September 2023 picks include Hand Lettering for Everyone, a selection from How to Draw in Simple Steps, and a selection from the Idiot's Guide series (Tiny House, Playing Guitar, and Alchemy)-- $30 for three books
Please note that when Square processes your order they describe it as a "digital delivery". That does not refer to way the books will be delivered to incarcerated readers. Your purchase will go towards NYC Books Through Bars fulfilling requests with physical copies of the aforementioned titles.
PLEASE NOTE that the books purchased through Freebird are ones that will be delivered directly to Books Through Bars so that they can fulfill requests from incarcerated readers.
Looking for a book for yourself? Check out our page at Bookshop.org, including lists of recommended reads from Piper Kerman, Victoria Law, Albert Woodfox, Victor LaValle, Mat Johnson, and others! Want to give a gift card? Freebird has e-gift cards available here for your birthday and holiday needs (and to redeem for future book drives)! To get updates on future selections, subscribe to Freebird's newsletter |
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