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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 2019 Resource Guide.
| Resource | Category |
|---|---|
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Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners provides free books to women prisoners in any state, as well as to male prisoners in these four states only: AL, AR, MS, and LA. Letters from Louisiana and women prisoners are given priority, with all other letters answered in the order received. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Midwest Books to Prisoners Midwest Books to Prisoners is staffed by volunteers who collect book donations, read letters, pack packages and solicit donations. Books are sent to prisoners in the following states: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, ND, SD & WI. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project Midwest Pages to Prisoners provides free books and zines to prisoners in these ten Midwest states only: AR, IA, IN, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, OK, & SD. In your letter, please tell us what type of reading material you are interested in—sharing subjects and genres of interest is most helpful. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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NYC Books Through Bars Specializes in political and history books, as well as literary fiction and other educational books with a priority for New York prisoners. Does not send religious literature. Fills requests from all states except AL, FL, LA, MA, MI, MS, NC, PA, OH & WI. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Book Program National books to prisoners organization. Offers a free 6-page “National Prisoner Resource List,” and a free resource list for LGBTQ. Does not send books or any other materials to any jails. Books may be delayed up to 4 to 6 months. Allows two book shipments per year. Serves people nationally EXCEPT CA, IL, MD, MI, NV, and TX, as well as some other individual prisons. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Book Project The Prison Book Project currently sends around 10,000 books each year to indigent prisoners in Florida prisons, and serves approximately 2,600 prisoners each year. Serves people in Florida only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Books Collective The Prison Books Collective is a Chapel Hill, NC-based anti-prison group that sends books to prisoners in Alabama and North Carolina, maintains an extensive radical ‘zine catalog, widely distributes a monthly poster promoting political prisoner support, and publishes prisoners’ art and writing. Serves people in AL and NC only. |
Educational Resources, Free Books Programs |
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Prison Books Collective Prison Books Collective is a NC-based group that sends free books to people in Alabama and North Carolina prisons only. Sends free zines (small booklets) on various political topics to all states. Request our zine catalog. Serves Alabama and North Carolina prisons only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prisoner Express Prisoner Express News is published every six months and sent free of charge to incarcerated individuals throughout the United States. They are also available for download online. It also sends books and educational packets as available. Serves people nationally. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Prisoners Literature Project The Prisoners Literature Project is an all-volunteer grassroots organization that sends free books to prisoners across the U.S. Please request types of books, not specific titles. They do not carry Christian books or legal texts. Please limit requests to once per year, and be patient while they try to find books to match your requests. Inform them of any book restrictions at your prison. PLP is one of PARC's partners - ask them for your next copy of the PARC directory! Serves people nationally except Texas. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |