UC Books to Prisoners, a program started by an inspired University graduate student, will be hosting a book sale called “Pages for Pennies” starting today through Monday at the Independent Media Center, 202 E. Broadway Ave. in Urbana.

UC Books to Prisoners is a 3-year-old, not-for-profit organization that collects donated books from around the area for Illinois prisoners. The approximately 20 adult and student volunteers involved either mail the books to prisoners across the state or donate them to the libraries of local jails. In addition, the volunteers manage the libraries and directly interact with the inmates.

Initially, the group focused on mailing books to prisons, but soon learned that the Champaign-Urbana jails had very small, inadequate libraries, said Susan Bruce, the “Pages for Pennies” book sale coordinator. With the support of the sheriff’s office, they opened two libraries in the area. The first opened in the downtown Urbana jail about two years ago, and last month the organization opened a library in the Urbana satellite jail, 502 S. Lierman Ave., she said.

“The county jail’s library consisted of a couple of measly shelves of romance novels,” said Yvette Scheven, a county jail librarian. “We were able to unload hundreds of good books for the inmates when we first opened.”

The volunteers have provided 11,676 books in 2,937 packages since they began, according to the Books to Prisoners Web site.

To accomplish this, the volunteers have spent large amounts of money on postage. They hold two book sales each year to raise funds for covering these costs. This spring, the “Pages for Pennies” sale will be offering between 6,000 and 7,000 donated books. Hardcover books and oversized trade paperbacks will sell for a dollar and general paperbacks can be purchased for 50 cents. On closing day, the books will be sold at half-price.

“I encourage anyone to come. We’re selling many good books for cheap prices,” said Jamie Storm, a volunteer. “Also, all the money is going to a good cause.”

If unable to attend the sale, the volunteers strongly encourage students to donate books to any of the six UC Books to Prisoners book drop sites, which include the University’s English building and the Independent Media Center.

Although their work can be time consuming, the volunteers believe in the importance of providing prisoners with good books and libraries.

“Inmates with time on their hands can do something productive or wasteful,” Storm said. “With books, they can improve themselves. It’s a win-win situation.”