About the PLP
Volunteer
Individual
Join us at the Bookshop! We have a flexible schedule and would love to have you volunteer with us!
Groups
Is your group looking for a volunteer opportunity? Let us know - we love groups!
Service Learning
We have opportunities for internships and can help you complete service hours.
Dictionary Program
Why Are Dictionaries So Important?
Dictionaries represent up to 25% of the requests we receive, and we send out approximately 200 dictionaries per month at a cost of roughly $1,000 (plus postage). However, we must purchase NEW dictionaries because, in most states, prisoners are not allowed to receive used dictionaries. Sadly, we are not currently able to respond to all requests for dictionaries, because of the expense to purchase new ones.
Dictionaries are a vital resource for inmates completing educational programs while incarcerated. We know that inmates who complete their education have a 43% lower rate of recidivism. ¹ The PLP believes in supporting these men and women with much-needed tools to improve their chance of success.
¹ Literacy Behind Prison Walls - National Center for Education Statistics
OUR IMPACT IN 2022
How Do We Put Your Donations to Work?
Every donation supports the Prison Library Project. Below are our priority project allocations:
Resource List
We connect inmates with other prison book programs. We also print a nationwide resource list that links inmates to other health, wellness, education, legal, and social services.
Postage
Our primary use for financial donations is to purchase postage. We were able to allocate $2000 or more for monthly postage in 2022.
Educational Resources
Each year, we purchase hundreds of dictionaries, Spanish-English dictionaries and other ESL resources, GED study guides, and more. In order to support prisoners as they work through educational programs or work to develop their own literacy skills.
Books
We have been able to purchase other books that are unique to the experiences of those incarcerated. We are always looking for titles that uplift, encourage, and support those in prison.