Books to Prisoners Programs
Books to Prisoners Programs
Below is a list of organizations that will send books to people who are in prison. The list is broken into four sections. When writing to these organizations, be sure to include any specific information about mailing restrictions at your institution and include any labels or forms needed by the prison. Expect a few months for delivery. Many of these projects are small and run by volunteers. They may not be able to respond to every request they receive. The five sections are:
Organizations who will send books on general topics for free (or a small donation)
Organizations who will send books specifically on religious or spiritual information for free
Organizations who prisoners buy books from
Organizations which fall into various categories but we are unsure if they are still in operation. First look in the above categories before writing to one of these organizations.
Organizations that are no longer in operation
1. General Book Programs that are free or ask a small donation:
Epimethian Press
P.O. Box 2143
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
For prisoners in Colorado only.
Email
Website
The Books 4 Prisoners Crew
P.O Box 19065
Cincinnati, OH 45219
Free books to prisoners in Ohio, Indiana and
Texas only. Request by subject. No religious books.
International Bisexual Resource Center
Write to:
BRC
P.O.Box 1026
Boston, MA 02117-1026
Offers educational information for prisoners that are or feel they may be bisexual. If prisoners send a letter requesting information a packet will be discreetly sent. Also offers a Bisexual Resource Guide for $12.95 when ordered from the website.
Website
Books Through Bars-NYC
c/o Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-3697 ext. 323
Sends free political, educational and historical literature to prisoners. Does not send religious materials or best sellers. There is a three month waiting list.
Email
Website
The Readers Corner
Prison Book Program
31 Montford Ave.
Ashville, NC 28807
Inside Books Project
c/o 12th St. Books
827 West 12th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 647-4803
Email
Sends free books and literature to prisoners in Texas only.
The Prison Library Project
915 West Foothill Blvd. Suite C128
Claremont, CA 91711
Free books on self-help, personal and spiritual growth, wellness, and metaphysical books. No law books, technical, or GED. No catalogue.
Prison Literature Project
C/o Bound Together Bookstore
1369 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Request types of books-not specific titles, no Christian/Islamic, horror, romance novels, legal. Stamps or donations greatly appreciated.
Offers free services. Sorry, no Texas Prisoners.
Lewisburg Prison Project Lewisburg Prison Project
P.O. Box 128
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 523- 1104
Distributes a variety of legal bulletins and legal publications at a minimal cost. Accepts stamps as payment. Write for a free list of materials offered.
Email
Website
Prison Book Project
P.O. Box 396
Amherst, MA 01004-0396
(413) 584-8975 ext. 208
Sorry, no Texas prisoners. Request books by topics of interest. No mailing list or catalogue. Donations of artwork and poetry for fundraising greatly appreciated.
Email
Website
Prison Book Program
Lucy Parson's Center & Bookstore Lucy Parson's Center & Bookstore
110 Arlington St.
Boston, MA 02116
Request topics or titles: legal materials, educational, social, political, and books in Spanish. No catalogue. A resource list is available. Does not send to CA, OR, PA, MI, or TX.
Website
Books for Prisoners
C/o Groundwork Books
0323 Student Center
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 452-9625
Groundwork offers up to two books per person,
Free of charge. Subjects: politics, culture, criticism,
Feminism and select novels. Write to request
a free book list. Stamp donations are appreciated to pay for shipping.
Email
San Diego Coalition for Women Prisoners (SDCCWP)
C/o Groundwork Books
0323 Student Center
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 452-9625
Sends books to women prisoners on various women's and political issues. Write to request a free book list. Stamp donations are appreciated to pay for shipping.
Books Through Bars
4722 Baltimore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Request books by topic, for example: novels, American
history, no catalog. Sends progressive political and educational materials at no charge to prisoners. Donations including stamps greatly appreciated.
Email
Website
Women's Prison Book Project
c/o Arise Bookstore
2441 Lyndale Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
This program is for women prisoners only.
Website
"Serve The People"Free books to Prisoners
Maoist International Movement
P.O. Box 29670
Los Angeles, CA 90029-0670
Free newsletters, journals and books with a revolutionary perspective. Current events, revolutionary nationalism (BPP, YLP,etc.), Marxist Classics
Email
Website
2. Specifically Religious Books-to-Prisoners Organizations:
Core Ministries
8857 Bennett Hill Rd.
Central Lake, MI 49622
Publishes and distributes a prisoner newsletter "The Christians Inmate News" to jails and prisons all over the country. Four issues a year.
Email
Website
T.A.O Inc. (Transformational Assistance for Offenders)
P.O. Box 471
Revere, MA 02151
Receive a free copy of newsletter. Send a $.34 stamp as payment along with name and address.
Buddhist Inmate Sangha
P.O. Box 16
Culp Creek, OR 97427-00166
This is a non-sectarian Buddhist egroup that support Buddhist inmates in their practice. Supplies free books and information on Buddhism as well as posting inmates on website for Buddhist pen pals.
Website
Egroup
Human Kindness Foundation P.O. Box 61619
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 304-2220 2 free books by Bo Lozoff or catalogue of other "hard to find" spiritual books.
Website
Aleph Institute
9540 Collins Avenue
Miami, FL 33154
Religious materials, newsletters and books for Jewish prisoners and their families (payment required for some individual book orders) Social services and counseling are also available for families.
Website
Alavi Foundation Mostazafam Foundation Book Program
Book Distribution Program
500 5th Ave., 39th Floor
New York, NY 10110
Free Koran for Muslim prisoners.
Jewish Prisoner Service International
P.O. Box 85840
Seattle, WA 98145-1840 Religious materials and support for Jewish prisoners Religious materials and support for Jewish prisoners and their families. Info for Chaplains.
Siddha Yoga Meditation Prison Project
SYDA Foundation
P.O. Box 99140
Emeryville, CA 94662
Receive free twelve year Siddha Yoga correspondence course and additional materials and assistance.
Email
Website
3. Organizations who you can order books from that you will have to pay for:
ACLU
125 Broad St.
New York, NY 10004 ACLU
Position Paper on Prisoner's Rights (free to prisoners, $1 for other people).
American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project
733 15th Street, NW
Suite 620
Washington, DC 20005
The Journal, quarterly newsletter featuring developments in prisoners' rights. Annual subscription is $2.00 for prisoners, $30.00 for others. Send check or money order to address above.
The Prisoners' Assistance Directory lists and describes local, state, national and international organizations that provide services to inmates, ex-offenders and their families.
Directory available for $30.00 prepaid.
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 208-1700
Email
Website
40% discount on books to prisoners. Distributes thousands of books on subjects ranging from radical politics, literature, music, & history. Write for catalogue of books.
AzureGreen
P.O. Box 48
Middlefield, MA 01243
Website
This is a Metaphysical and Witchcraft Retail and Wholesale store in the internet and mail order. You can write for a free catalog, or visit their website.
Books thru Bars of Ithaca
Autumn Leaves Used Bookstore
OAR 403 N. Plain St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Sends books to prisoners only in New York.
Oceana Publications
75 Main St.
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-1601
(914) 693-8100
Prisoners self-help information manual $32.95
Brief Writing and Oral Argument $35.00
Introduction to the Legal System of the U.S. $29.50
Free shipping and handling for prisoners.
Email
Website
South End Press
7 Brookline St. #1
Cambridge MA 02139-4146
Write for a catalogue of books you can buy.
Email
Website
PAN- Books 4 Prisoners
P.O. Box 14162
Columbus, OH 43214
Requests for specific books are accepted, but no guarantees are made, prisoners should list alternatives as well as general topics of interest. All books are $10.00 prepaid, please add $1.00 postage for first book and $.50 each additional book.
Email or panohio3@aol.com
Website
4. The following programs provided free books to prisoners at one point. We do not know if they are still in operation. Write at your own risk!
Arm the Spirit
PO Box 6326, Stn A
Toronto, ONT
M5W IP7 CANADA
Claustrophobia
P.O. Box 1721
Baltimore, MD 21203
Anarchist collective that distributes political literature on prison struggles, class struggles, and Black Liberation Movement. List is free, send three stamps to receive free materials.
Serve the People
c/o RAIL
P.O. Box 3576
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-3576
Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League
International Bible Society
PO Box 35700
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3570
American Muslim Foundation
1212 New York Ave, NW Suite 525
Washington, DC 20005
Rock of Ages Prison Ministry
P 0 Box 2308
Cleveland, TN 37320
Free King James Bible, correspondence course.
National Lawyers Guild Prison Law Project
558 Capp St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
$ 7.50 for prisoners
Rising Sun Books
P.O. Box 4362
Allentown, PA 18105
Pen Writing Program
568 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
"Word over whales": starting a writing workshop in a prison.
Books to Prisoners
C/o Left Bank Books
92 Pike St., Box A
Seattle, WA 98101
Request by subject, no religious materials or legal materials. If prison requires books to be sent first-class, then prisoner needs to make donation of $2, otherwise free, but donations appreciated.
Raze the Walls! Raze the Walls!
2351 College Station Rd.
Box #523
Athens, GA 30605
Anarchist collective that distributes political literature on prison struggles, class struggles, and Black Liberation Movement. List is free, send three stamps to receive free materials.
Islamic Center
22551 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Free Koran and study guides. Can send through chaplain.
Prison Legal News
2400 80th St., NW #148
Seattle, WA 98117
Monthly legal publication. $18/year.
5. The following programs are no longer in operation.
American Bible Society
Inside Out
Sacramento, CA 95812
Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project
C/o Secret Sailor Books
Bloomington, IN 47404
Books Beyond Bars
Hialeah, FL 33014
Portland Books to Prisoners
Portland, OR 97229
Prison Reading Project
Pa2 Press
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Tower Press
Duncansville, PA 16635
F & W Publications
Cincinnati, OH 45207
Note: Because of our limited resources, the American Friends Service Committee's Ohio Criminal Justice Program is no longer able to mail this list to prisoners outside of Ohio. We hope, however, that it will continue to be widely distributed. Please feel free to photocopy this list and share with others. Please send changes or updates for this list to:
Ohio Criminal Justice Program
American Friends Service Committee
915 Salem Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45406
Feel free to copy and distribute this list.
