Right to Read
Over 2,200 undocumented immigrants are being held in detention centers located throughout New Jersey. Conditions in these centers are dehumanizing and fall well below the standards of American prisons. This includes a lack of reading materials in their native language.
First Friends of NJ and NY is an organization providing services to these detained immigrants. As part of their operation, First Friends provides free books for relief - even momentarily - from their current conditions.
New Jersey librarians can help by donating discarded books in Spanish, French, Chinese, and all other non-English languages. This can help bring respite from the boredom and despondency detainees often face as they wait for trial, deportation, or release.
The Diversity & Outreach Section of NJLA will be collecting books on behalf of First Friends of NJ & NY, who will distribute them to immigrant detainees in New Jersey. Please contact one of the following drop-off locations to see how your library can get involved.
PLEASE NOTE!
Only paperbacks, please (no hardcovers). Please take care not to send books that are overtly violent or reference terrorism.
Books must be shipped to your nearest collection point through standard mailing services at cost (use of LibraryLinkNJ couriers is prohibited) or dropped off in person. Please contact the site coordinator to make arrangements for large donations.
Dropoff Contacts and Locations
North: Kyle Craig, Reference Librarian | Rockaway Township Public Library |
61 Mount Hope Rd., Rockaway, NJ 07866 | 973-627-2344 | kyle.craig@rtlibrary.org
Central: Jill D’Amico, Head of Information Services | South Brunswick Public Library |
110 Kingston Ln., Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 | 732-329-4000 x7638 | jdamico@sbpl.info
South: Carissa Schanely, Director | Collingswood Public Library |
771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 | 856-858-0649 | cschanely@collingswoodlib.org
Only paperbacks, please (no hardcovers). Please take care not to send books that are overtly violent or reference terrorism.
Books must be shipped to your nearest collection point through standard mailing services at cost (use of LibraryLinkNJ couriers is prohibited) or dropped off in person. Please contact the site coordinator to make arrangements for large donations.
Is your library interested in being a dropoff point? Contact Kyle Craig at 973-627-2344 or kyle.craig@rtlibrary.org