Want to help out or donate books? We recently moved! We’re at Freebird Bookstore during the following times:
* Mondays 7:30-9:30pm
* Thursdays 7:30-9:30pm
* Sundays 5:00-8pm
We are grateful to Freebird for temporarily housing Books Through Bars while ABC No Rio moves towards the construction of a new facility. You can still reach us by voicemail or email through ABC No Rio.
Freebird is located at 123 Columbia Street between Kane and Degraw, in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. From the Bergen F/G stop, or the Borough Hall 4/5 stop, walk along Court Street to Kane, then down Kane to Columbia. Or, take the B61 bus to Freebird’s front door.
Here is a map of the area.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities:
BTB NYC is based out of the basement of Freebird books. The basement area is generally inaccessible to most individuals with mobility-related disabilities, and/or individuals with chronic breathing or dust sensitivities.
As a collective, Books Through Bars NYC is committed to ensuring accessibility for volunteers with disabilities whenever possible. If you are interested in volunteering, please email btb@abcnorio.org so we can discuss accommodations that can be made. Also, please note: there are many ways to be involved with and support the work of BTB NYC for those who cannot attend packing sessions.
Other ways to help:
Since Freebird books is not walking distance from a post office, we are in need of people with access to vehicles to help us transport stamped packages on a one-time-only or regular basis. If you can help in this way, it would be much appreciated.
Want to maintain a Books Through Bars drop box at your student center, or collect books for BTB at your workplace? We are always short of certain categories of books. Get in touch with us (btb@abcnorio.org) to discuss a plan. Please note that we don’t have a vehicle to do pick ups, so planning a book drive or drop box will have to include ideas about how to bring books to Freebird either when we are working or when the store is open.
There are other great ways to help get books to prisoners — help organize a fundraiser, help us sell books we cannot use, help us make photocopies of zines and popular articles, find free wrapping paper (saved paper bags) and other packing supplies, and more. Get in touch if you’re interested in getting involved, or just come to a packing session.
Stay in Touch:
Let us know if you’d like to be added to either the Events Announcement list and/or our Volunteer list. Since we are a small group of volunteers, not usually at the space all at the same time, our volunteer list is a primary way we communicate and keep BTB running smoothly. It’s a great way to plug in whether you are or aren’t able to attend regular packing sessions. Once every few months, we use this list to set up an organizational meeting.
