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
Midwest Books to Prisoners

Midwest Pages to Prisoners provides free books and zines to prisoners in the Midwest. Serves only AR, IA, IN, KS, ND, OK, & SD.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
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
Missouri Prison Books Program

Abolitionist group of volunteers sending books to individuals incarcerated in Missouri and Kansas only.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
NYC Books Through Bars

Write for free books from a large assortment of fiction and non-fiction, including political and history books, and other educational books. Does not send religious texts. Fills requests from all states except AL, FL, LA, MA, MI, MS, NC, PA, OH, and WI. Priority for New York prisoners.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Open Books & the Prison Book Project

The Prison Book Project sends free books to indigent prisoners in Florida prisons. Serves people in Florida only.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
PDX Books Through Bars

PDX Books Through Bars is an all-volunteer org in Oregon. We ship up to 3 books for free to anyone incarcerated in all states except Wisconsin (although if WI changes their rules we will resume shipping there). Write in to request general topics and genres.  Please include the mail-in address of your facility and any restrictions.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Pittsburgh Prison Book Project

All-volunteer non-profit organization that sends free educational books and quality reading material to people incarcerated in Pennsyvlania. Pennsylvania only.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Prison Book Program

Free books and print resources to people in prisons and jails. Offers a free National Prisoner Resource List and a free legal primer (We The People). Three book shipments per person per year. Requests typically take 60-90 days to fill. Serves people in all 50 states, except facilities and state systems which do not permit free books or only permit books from Amazon, Hamilton, etc.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Prison Books Collective Publishing and Distribution

The Prison Books Collective Publishing and Distribution is a books-to-prisoners nonprofit based in Durham, NC. PBC's catalog includes radical essays, guides, games, and Words of Fire, our literary magazine of art and writing by incarcerated people (always accepting submissions). Sends books and zines to any incarcerated men in NC, incarcerated people of all genders in AL, and people incarcerated in federal prisons in DE, KY, MD, TN, VA, and WV. Women in NC should mail the NC Women's Prison Book Project. Zines available to people across the US—write for a catalog.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Prison Library Project

All genres of books and literature are available, including LGBTQ+, fiction and non-fiction, social sciences, and educational materials. Limit requests to once every four months. Family and friends can request books online through our website. Resource lists are always available and provided for other similar programs nationwide. Include prison mail rules in your request letter. The total turnaround time is approximately two-three months. Serves nationwide.


 Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs

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