Resources: Books, Magazines, and Publishers
PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.
Download a PDF copy of the November 2024 Edition here.
Please note recent updates since our last publication:
Compassion Works For All has closed (see listing in Religious Programs)
Missouri Prison Books: Now sending to Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana. Is banned in Missouri, since Sept 23, 2024
The Pathfinder Network: correct phone is 503-892-5396
Providence Books Through Bars c/o Paper Nautilus 19 S Angell Street Providence RI 02906
Women’s Book Project 3501 Aldrich Ave. S, Minneapolis MN 55408
PDX Books Through Bars: ships up to 3 books for free to anyone incarcerated in all states except Wisconsin. General topics/genres only. PO Box 11222; Portland OR, 97211
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Alabama Books to Prisons Project Run through the Burdock Book Collective, this program fulfills book requests for people incarcerated in 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. Alabama only.
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Anarchist Black Cross Los Angeles ABC is on the frontline in supporting those imprisoned for struggling for freedom and liberty with a focus on the overall support and defense of political prisoners and prisoners of war. The ABC Federation is a collective of ABC groups working together to better support anarchist and "class war" political prisoners and prisoners of war. Write for information on political prisoners and for addresses of other chapters in Bakersfield CA, Inland Empire CA, Orange County, Lancaster PA, Philadelphia PA, and New York City.
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |
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Appalachian Prison Book Project 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 we will do our best to find a good book for you. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Asheville Prison Books 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. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Athens Books to Prisoners Athens Books to Prisoners is a volunteer-run organization that sends free books to prisoners in Ohio only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Big House Books A volunteer-run nonprofit sending books to inmates in Mississippi correctional facilities since 2015. Mississippi only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Books Behind Bars - New Jersey A grassroots, volunteer-run prison abolition project that provides free books upon request to people incarcerated in New Jersey prisons. Please include your name, ID number, facility name, address, and the kind of books you want. Since all of our books are donated, we can't guarantee exact titles (though we do our best). New Jersey only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Books Behind Bars - Virginia 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, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Books Through Bars Free books across the Eastern Seaboard. Sends to DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA & VA only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Books to Prisoners (Seattle) Provides free reading materials to incarcerated individuals. Most books are used; limited access to new books. Write directly to request (no requests by email or phone). Serves people nationwide. Typical turnaround is 2+ months; people in short-term facilities should note in their request how long they anticipate being incarcerated. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |