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Portland Books Through Bars

EDUCATION  |  EMANCIPATION  |  EMPOWERMENT

PDX Books Through Bars distributes reading materials for free to adults in custody. We are a 100% volunteer-run, donation-based non-profit. We fundraise for all of our operating expenses: shipping, packaging, special book requests and organizational costs.

A Brief History

Portland Books Through Bars (formerly Portland Books to Prisoners) formed in the mid-1990s as a sister program to Seattle Books to Prisoners, emerging with a shared mission to combat educational inequity for people who are incarcerated. Over the decades, the organization evolved into a dedicated collective working to challenge restrictive policies and advocate for the transformative power of books. 

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mid-90s

Founding & Early Connections

The Portland chapter was founded as a sister program to the Seattle Books to Prisoners. The purpose is to extend literacy and education efforts to people in custody.

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