Art Talk by: Maryssa Rose Chavez
Photography by: Jinni J 

Books have a long, prevalent, and important history throughout the world. Access to reading/educational materials has been long sought after, but not always accessible to all people for a variety of reasons and prejudices. In this case, we see the inaccessibility found within the prison system.  Did you know that if there is a library in a prison at any level, and if an inmate checks out a book, that book can be taken away at any time, without explanation?  This is because it is not the inmates personal property, but Inside Books Project has found a way to get books, reading materials, dictionaries, and much more, into the hands of those who want them, without fear of them being taken away. 
We first began working with Inside Books Project (IBP), in 2020 when they fundraised for their org by putting out their t-shirt via Raw Paw Drop Ship that sold over 100 shirts! I am so excited for y'all to learn more about IBP and all that they are doing to help the more than 140,000 inmates in Texas prisons. This organization has been around since 1998 and is the only non-profit in Texas providing reading materials to inmates. My hope that by the end of this Art Talk you will be all that much more motivated to support, donate, and collaborate with them as they grow to help more and more incarcerated people.
Huge thank you Adam Karlin for sharing your thoughts and ideas and representing Inside Books Project!

Photo by: Jinni J

Maryssa:
I’d love to start this interview with a little blurb about you, where you’re from and what you love to do.

Adam:
I am originally from Seattle but have lived in Austin for the last 17 years. I have many passions that I enjoy. Traveling on my motorcycle, spending time with my animals and volunteering. Working with Inside Books has brought me a lot of joy over the years, it is a very rewarding endeavor.

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Maryssa:
Inside Books project is truly such a special and important organization / non-profit here in Austin. Could you explain in short what your team's goals are and what you do?

Adam:
Our main goal is to help provide resources to the incarcerated people of this state. Education is one of the best ways to help reduce recidivism. Too many times prison libraries have very minimal resources for the people that are being held in their units. Many of the people we serve are indigent and have no other resources to get books or other resources they may need. Countless studies show the access to quality reading materials greatly increases the chance of a path to higher education, and a better path once released.

Adam Karlin pictured above, wearing the Inside Books Project t-shirt
Photo by: Jinni J

Maryssa:
I have done a bit of reading about how long Inside Books project has been around and I am impressed with how deeply committed you all are to the equal opportunity for incarcerated folx, and I would love to hear about the journey to becoming what Inside Books project is today?

Adam:
I am a newer member. I have only been volunteering for roughly the last 5 years. I have still seen some change in those times. We have moved our volunteer location to a new facility (with the same church, they purchased a new facility and decided to still provide a space for us), we have created many new in house brochures we can send to inmates with useful info (resource quide’s, covid info sheets, drivers guides etc). As letters come in we try and see the needs that are being requested and do what we can to meet those needs.

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Maryssa:
How can the broader Austin/Texas community be a better ally to incarcerated people?

Adam:
It is best to be aware that these are human beings inside. Many of these people are serving short terms while they wait trial because of the cash bail system, there are also many people there on low level drug or non violent charges. The state of Texas is one of the most incarcerated places in the country. Many of the people that write to us have little or no contact with people on the outside. It is best to be educated about what the police at these facilities are doing. Talk to your local politicians to push for the reform that is desperately needed. 

Photo by: Jinni J

Maryssa:
What are some of the best ways we as a community, can support the Inside Books Project?

Adam:
Currently due to COVID-19, we are unable to take outside volunteers, but you can still donate gently used books. We love up to date trade manuals, comics, magna, popular soft cover fiction, art books, Native American History and literature, LGTBQTIA+ studies, Spanish language fiction, and puzzle books to name a few. Financial donations are also always welcome, most of our expenses go directly to mailing, we receive about 2,000 letters a month on average. We also have an Amazon Wish-list for those wishing to help us with paper for letters mailing envelopes, tape or other supplies that we use on a daily basis.

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Maryssa:
Are there other programs similar to Inside Books Projects that assist incarcerated people that you’d like to shout out?

Adam:
There are so many great organizations out there so I apologize now to any I forget: Grassroots Leadership in Austin they are trying to bring an end to prisoner profiteering, Women’s Story Book Project allowing incarcerated women to read stories to their children, Monkey Wrench Books for their continued support of the local community. The Prison Yoga Project out of California, Prison Legal News, Prison Book Program in DC, Books to Prisoners in Seattle (one of the oldest in the country), Prison Book Program in Quincy.
There really are quite a few programs like ours across the country trying to fill this need. I could go on for a long time. But we are the only one in the state of Texas.  

Photo by: Jinni J

Maryssa:
What, when, where can people find/support/donate to Inside Books Project?

Adam:
While we are not currently bringing in outside volunteers we still have a drop box for donations in front of our facility on: 3106 14 ½ Street. Inmates can write us at PO Box 301029 Austin Texas 78703, and you can email us at: insidebooksproject@gmail.com.
During these times we are doing what we can to always make sure a collective member is present for donations during posted volunteer hours. These hours are: Sunday 5-9 pm and Thursday 7-11 pm.
If anyone is planning a large book donation it is best to email in advance. You can find a donation link through our Facebook page and Website. We look forward to a time to be able to bring volunteers back in the building and returning to a sense of normalcy.

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Maryssa:
What is the most important thing to you in 2021?

Adam:
That is a tough one to answer, my values have not changed much in the last year just became a little more focused. My goals as far as Inside Books go are to try get us caught back up since the lack of volunteers is making it very hard to keep up with answering letters. I would like us to create a safe and welcoming environment for volunteers, when the time is safe we have a lot of work to do. I am looking forward to working hard to get these packages out, and I am looking forward to the energy that a room full of volunteers brings to our letter writing sessions.

Photo by: Jinni J

Thank you Adam, and IBP for your time and for allowing us to conduct this interview and learn more about this amazing organization.
Myself and the team over at Raw Paw have gained a ton of perspective as to what not only IBP does, but also the issues at hand within the prison industrial complex. 
If you wish to support IBP you can find them on Instagram, and on their website. They are also currently in collaboration with 1804 Books, at checkout on 1804's website you can DONATE a percentage of your order to IBP, so they can continue to purchase and send books. The ONLY program of its kind getting books to those incarcerated in Texas. Donate today! ❤️