Prison Book Programs
Updated: Sep 5, 2022
There are other books-to-prisoners programs across the country. Each organization has their own rules and guidelines regarding where they can send books and what kinds of books their project supports.
ADVICE FOR CONTACTING ANY PRISON BOOK PROGRAM
Follow these guidelines and you will have a better chance of receiving a book.
Always print clearly. Include your full name, ID number and address. It is helpful if you include that information in your letter - not just on the envelope.
Write to the organization directly. Do not have someone request a book for you. Most of these organizations will only send books when requested directly by the inmate. Friends and family members cannot request a book on your behalf.
Let the organization know if your institution has unique restrictions (such as not accepting hardcover books) and double-check that they allow books to be sent from that specific organization.
Be general. Let them know the subjects were types of books that you are interested in. The vast majority of these organizations rely on donated books so they are often unable to fulfill specific requests.
Be patient. Volunteer organizations work hard to help inmates access books. It is typical for book programs to take several months to answer requests.
Unless the organization specifically provides law books, don't ask for legal guides or resources.
These organizations do not send books that are racist, sexist, homophobic, violent, etc.
Thank you notes are always appreciated. Let the volunteers know that their work makes a difference. Let them know if there were any difficulties receiving the book at your institution.
ACTIVE PRISON BOOK PROGRAMS
The organizations below are currently active and are sending books to prisoners. Help us keep our list up to date. Let us know if you have any corrections or information about any of the organizations below. Please follow this link to report a problem or email rachel@claremontforum.org. Note: we attempt to contact every organization on this list. An organization must have an active website or social media page in order to be included. We cannot guarantee that the organizations below will send you a book.
Alabama Books to Prisons Project
P.O. Box 130699 Birmingham, AL 35213
Run through the Burdock Book Collective, this program fulfills book requests and manages a pen pal program for people incarcerated in Texas and Alabama prisons. LGBTQA friendly: "As queers and allies ourselves, we aim to provide a space for personal expression and communication free from homophobia and transphobia."
Appalachian Prison Book Project
PO Box 601 | Morgantown, WV 26507
The Appalachian Prison Book Project (APBP) sends free books and provides educational opportunities to people incarcerated in the Appalachian region. We serve six states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. You can request by topic area or title, and they will do their best to find a good book for you.
Asheville Prison Books
67 N. Lexington c/o Downtown Books & News | Asheville, NC 28801
Sends free reading material to folks incarcerated in North Carolina and South Carolina, including county jails, detention centers, state prisons, and federal facilities. They do not have a catalogue, but try to match requests to books as best they can. Serves people in North Carolina and South Carolina only.
Athens Books to Prisoners
30 1st Street | Athens, OH 45701
Athens Books to Prisoners is a volunteer-run organization that sends free books to prisoners in Ohio only.
Big House Books
PO Box 55586 | Jackson, MS 39296
Sends books to Mississippians in prisons and juvenile detention centers. Every person has the right to educate oneself; lets make that a reality. Serves Mississippians only.
Books Behind Bars - New Jersey
PO Box 2611 | Wildwood, NJ 08260
A grassroots, volunteer-run prison abolition project that provides free books upon request to people incarcerated in New Jersey prisons.
Books Behind Bars - Virginia
Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Library Attn: Books Behind Bars | 1500 Gordon Ave. Charlottesville, VA 22903
Serves people incarcerated in Virginia only. Write with requests for up to three books per month. They will do their best to fulfill all requests, but cannot guarantee specific title availability.
Books Through Bars
4722 Baltimore Ave | Philadelphia, PA 19143
Free books across the Eastern Seaboard. Prisoners may request by topic (not exact title or author), and provide several areas of interest if possible. Sends to DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA & VA only.
Books to Prisoners (Seattle), also Spokane, Olympia and Portland OR
Books to Prisoners c/o Left Bank Books | 92 Pike Street, Box A | Seattle, WA 98101
Books to Prisoners has satellite locations in Olympia, Spokane, and Portland, Oregon. Each volunteer organization serves inmates across the country. Inmates should write to the main office at 92 Pike St., Box A | Seattle, WA 98101
Chicago Books to Women in Prison
c/o RFUMC 4511 N. Hermitage Ave. | Chicago, IL 60640
Serves: AZ, CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, MS, MO, and OH
Connecticut Prison Book Connection
PO Box 946 Rocky Hill, CT | 06067-0946
Request books by subject and genre.
DC Books to Prisoners
PO Box 34190, Washington, DC 20043
Request books by subject and genre. Serves state and federal prisoners in 34 states, and federal prisoners in Arizona. With the exception of DC residents in federal prisons, we do not serve inmates in CT, FL, IL, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, or WI
Groundworks Books | Books for Prisoners at UCSD
0323 UCSD Old Student Center | La Jolla, CA 92037
Request subjects and genres of books.
Human Kindness Foundation c/o The Prison-Ashram Project
PO Box 61619 | Durham, NC 27715
HKF provides free spiritual books and newsletters to those who are incarcerated and to prison/jail staff members. Book titles include:
We’re All Doing Time, by Bo & Sita Lozoff (also available in Spanish)
Lineage & Other Stories, by Bo & Sita Lozoff
The Untethered Soul, by Michael Singer
Just Another Spiritual Book, by Bo & Sita Lozoff
Deep & Simple, by Bo Lozoff
Una Vida Sagrada, by Bo Lozoff
Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row, by Jarvis Jay Masters
Nine Paths to Forgiveness: Understanding Ourselves and Others, by Chris Canfield
Finding God Within: Contemplative Prayer for Prisoners, by Chaplain Ray Leonardini (also available in Spanish)
When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chödrön (also available in Spanish)
Inside Books Project
PO Box 301029 | Austin, TX 78703
Sends free books and literature to prisoners in Texas only. Also sends a very informative prisoner resource guide free to prisoners in all states. Send two stamps, or pre-addressed stamped envelope containing two stamps for a copy of their resource guide. Serves people in Texas prisons only.
Ithaca College Books Thru Bars
IC Books Thru Bars c/o Ithaca College Library, PO Box 113 Brooktondale, NY, 14817
Set within Ithaca College, this group works to send reading literature to incarcerated individuals as well as raise awareness of issues related to incarceration. Serves NY, NY, VT, MA, RI, CT, NJ, and PA. Include a request for a genre, author, or title and any mailing restrictions for you facility. Requests will be honored as best as possible. Be patient for response as they only pack and mail twice per semester.
LGBT Books to Prisoners
1202 Williamson St #1 c/o Social Justice Center Incubator | Madison, WI 53703
Volunteer-run organization that sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to LGBT-identified people in prison across the US (except those in TX). Will send books in Spanish (enviar libros en Español). Sends up to two packages and books per year. Prefers requests by topic/genre, but can occasionally fulfill specific requests. Serves all states except Texas.
Liberation Lit
PO Box 45071 | Kansas City, MO 64171
Abolitionist group of volunteers sending books to individuals incarcerated in Missouri and Kansas only.
Lopez Books
PO Box 327 | Lopez Island, WA 98261
Books to prisoners program serving Washington and Alaska only. Send general requests by genre and/or topic.
Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners
3157 Gentilly Blvd. #141 | New Orleans, LA 70122
Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners currently serves the following states: Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas. Women and LA prisoners are prioritized.
Louisville Books to Prisoners
1512 Portland Ave. #1 c/o McQuixote Books and Coffee | Louisville, KY 40203
Ships free books directly to prisoners in Kentucky and Virginia only. Request reading material by prioritized subjects and list facility restrictions if known. Serves Kentucky and Virginia only