Books Behind Bars - NHS book drive

Books provide the reader with an incredible number of benefits, including a sense of connectedness with community and an escape from a potentially difficult everyday life. However, not everyone has the same access to books that many of us take for granted. Local prisons suffer from a "horrendous lack of books," explained Lily Sykes, a junior at Niwot High School.

Sykes is spearheading the project, "Books Behind Bars," a book drive with the goal of providing much needed books to prisons. "I believe that access to literature is a right, regardless of the mistakes any individual has made," she continued. "What is literature if not an act of pure humanity?"

Mr. David Ross, a long-time English teacher at the high school, agrees about the importance of books. "Reading is a significantly important intervention that can help both academic and personal success," he explained. "One of the biggest benefits of book drives is it gives people access to literature."

"Books Behind Bars" donation boxes are located at Niwot Elementary School, Sunset Middle School, Niwot High School, Burlington Elementary School, and the Up-A-Creek Robotics Headquarters. The project has received enthusiastic support as Sykes has already surpassed her 300-book goal and hopes to collect even more.

"It has been amazing to see how willing people are to support one another and how much of an impact we can all have on the world," she said. If you would like to donate any books to the "Books Behind Bars" drive, please bring them to the book drop-off boxes at any of the above schools.