Prison Library Project
Empowering Incarcerated Readers Across the Nation
Welcome to The Claremont Forum's Prison Library Project (PLP), a volunteer-driven program focused on delivering books and educational resources to incarcerated individuals. Our mission is to address the pressing issue of insufficient literacy skills and limited access to reading materials among incarcerated men and women nationwide. Since we took over the original Project in 1985 (we became the Claremont Forum in 1993), we've mailed over half a million books to correctional facilities across the United States.
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Supporting Incarcerated Adults Nationwide with Books and Education
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At our core, we firmly believe that unrestricted access to reading is a fundamental human right. Books serve as powerful conduits for enlightenment, pleasure, and personal growth. Our commitment is centered on alleviating the dehumanizing and isolating effects of incarceration, offering our readers a sense of belonging within a compassionate and supportive community.
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Take Action Today: Donate Books, Offer Your Time, Invest in Our Mission
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Join us in our mission to promote literacy, personal growth, and a sense of community among incarcerated individuals. Explore our work and learn how you can support the Prison Library Project.
Our History
The Prison Library Project has a long and impactful history, beginning with its founding in 1973 by Ram Dass and Bo Lozoff in Durham, North Carolina. In 1985, the project relocated to Claremont, California, under the dedicated leadership of founding director Rick Moore. Since then, the project has continued to expand, officially becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1993.
Today, the Prison Library Project operates out of the Claremont Forum Bookshop, located in the Claremont Packing House. This growth is fueled by the commitment of hundreds of passionate volunteers who contribute their time and energy to the cause.
As one of the largest books-to-prisoners programs in the nation, the Prison Library Project plays a vital role in providing educational resources, including dictionaries and other materials, to incarcerated individuals across the country.
What We Do
The Prison Library Project (PLP) receives over 500 letters each week from inmates in more than 400 state and federal prisons, as well as detention centers across the United States.
Each year, we mail over 30,000 books directly to incarcerated individuals. In addition to supporting individual inmates, we provide boxes of books to prison librarians, educators, and chaplains to help expand educational resources within correctional facilities.
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Recognition for Community Leadership
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In 2023, the Claremont Forum’s Prison Library Project was honored with the Building Bridges Award by Congresswoman Judy Chu. This award recognizes the PLP as a vital community resource and highlights its ability to bring volunteers together for meaningful work across the country.
Collaboration with Local Organizations
The Claremont Forum works closely with the City of Claremont, local non-profit organizations, and small businesses to foster community engagement. Through these partnerships, we strengthen our impact and help create a more connected and supportive environment for volunteers and those we serve.
WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PRISON LIBRARY PROJECT
Wishlists
People frequently ask for books that aren't commonly donated, and some requests are so specific that we are determined to find the perfect book. You can contribute by purchasing a book from our online wish lists on Amazon or from bookshop.org and we will ensure that these books reach incarcerated readers.
Make a Donation
Donations play a pivotal role in sustaining the mission of the Prison Library Project. They assist us in covering the expenses associated with postage, acquiring educational materials, and preparing books for mailing.
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Our annual postage costs are nearly $20,000. You can make a valuable contribution to our Postage Drive, which will enable us to continue delivering books to those who need them.
Volunteer
Our dedicated volunteers are the backbone of our project, making everything we do possible. We offer a range of opportunities for individuals, schools, and service learning programs to get involved.
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Discover the various ways you can make a difference on our volunteer page and take the first step by signing up today. Your contributions can have a significant impact on our mission.
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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.
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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.
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¹ Literacy Behind Prison Walls - National Center for Education Statistics
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.