You are here
Resources: Free Books Programs
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
| Resource | Category |
|---|---|
|
Chicago Books to Women in Prison Serves: women’s state prisons in AZ, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, IN, KY, MN, MS, TN, TX, VT, WA; all women in Federal prisons, and trans women being housed in men’s prisons everywhere. Provides books in Spanish and can often get books in other languages, as well. |
Women's Organizations and Resources, Free Books Programs |
|
Davis Books to Prisoners We carry FREE books on many topics (please request by topic, not title or author) and specialize in the following: History (world), Black, Latino Native American and Asian Studies, Women’s studies / feminism, Labor studies / unionism, Philosophy, Sociology, and Literary Classics. We serve nationally and send 3-6 books at a time.
|
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
DC Books to Prisoners Request free reading material by mail. Sends books to state and federal prisoners in AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, GA, HI, IA, IN, KY, LA, MD, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, and WY as well as federal prisoners (only) in AR, ID, and KS and requests from DC residents in federal prisons in all states. Please wait 5 months between requests. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Great Falls Books Through Bars Provides free books to people incarcerated in Federal facilities nationwide and state facilities in CA, FL, and TX only. Write to request |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Inside Books Project Sends free books and literature to prisoners in Texas only. Also sends a very informative prisoner resource guide free to prisoners in all states. Please no SASE. Serves people in Texas prisons only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
LGBT Books to Prisoners Volunteer-run organization that sends books and other educational materials, free of charge, to LGBT-identified people in prison across the US. Enviar libros en Español. Sending 2 packages of books per year in 2026. Prefers requests by topic, but can occasionally fulfill specific requests. Serves all states except Texas (and state prisons where rules prohibit all book donations). |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Liberation Library The only organization that provides books of their choosing to youth in Illinois prisons. Volunteer-run. Write for a catalog of options. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Liberation Lit The only organization that provides books of their choosing to youth in Illinois prisons. Volunteer-run. Write for a catalog of options. Illinois only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Lopez Books Books to prisoners program serving Washington and Alaska only. Send with general requests by genre and/or topic. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
|
Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners Mail your book requests, please include a few preferred topics, genres or favorite authors. Our all-volunteer program sends books to people incarcerated in Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, though not all facilities allow books from us. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |