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
Prisoners Literature Project

Sends free books to prisoners across the U.S. No Christian or legal books available. Limit requests to once every 9 months, 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.


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

All-volunteer outfit that sends donated books to provide free reading material for incarcerated people to Federal prisons nationwide where accepted and State prisons in: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, ID, IN, KS, MD, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT.  Please do not use the previous Warwick, RI address


Free Books Programs
Read Between the Bars

Non-profit collective sending free books since 2007. Request by genre. We do not have law books. Serves people in Arizona only.


Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
RedBird Books-to-Prisoners

Provides free books to people incarcerated in Ohio only. Request by subject.


 


Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Saxapahaw Prison Books

 Free books to individuals incarcerated in Georgia. Write for more info on resources available. Georgia only.


Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs
Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners

UC Books to Prisoners is an Urbana, Illinois based project providing books to people incarcerated in state and federal prisons in Illinois only. It also runs a Champaign County Jail library and stocks the County Youth Detention Center library. Illinois only.


Educational Resources, Free Books Programs
Wisconsin Books to Prisoners Project

Sends books free of charge only to prisoners in state or federal prisons in Wisconsin. Only responds to written snail mail requests. Wisconsin only.


 


Educational Resources, Free Books Programs

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