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.
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Pathfinder Press Pathfinder Press is a publisher whic carries books on the works of revolutionary and working class leaders, in many different languages. Prisoners receive a 50% discount off the cover price, with a flat rate of $2.75 for shipping and handling per order (one or more titles). Write for a free catalog. Serves people internationally. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Vendors and Publishers |
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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 |
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PM Press PM Press carries counter-culture, anti-prison, and similar titles including The Prison-Industrial Complex and the Global Economy, Let Freedom Ring: A Collection of Documents from the Movements to Free U.S. Political Prisoners, and more. Prisoners receive a 50% discount. No longer offers printed catalog; must view website (asking for outside help if needed) for listings of books. Check your selection against the prison's contraband list as many political books are banned. Serves nationally. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Vendors and Publishers |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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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. PE also sends books and educational packets as available. Prisoner Express has ongoing programs in creative writing, chess, meditation, journaling and art. Sends to people nationally.
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |
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Prisoners Literature Project Sends free books to prisoners across the U.S.No Christian or legal books available. 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 (check out Inside Books Project instead!). |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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Read Between the Bars Read Between the Bars is an all-volunteer, non-profit collective sending free books since 2007. We do not have law books. Serves people in Arizona only. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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RedBird Books-to-Prisoners Dedicated to providing Ohio prisoners with free books and reading materials. Send requests by subject with priority to individuals incarcerated in Ohio. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Free Books Programs |
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San Quentin News San Quentin News is a 20-page monthly newsletter written, edited, and produced by prisoners incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison. The SQ News encourages prisoners, staff, or others outside the institution to submit articles, poems, artwork and letters to the editor for possible inclusion. To receive a mailed copy of the SQ News, send $1.61 in postage. This process should be repeated every month for each new edition. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |
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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 |
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The Angolite The Angolite is published and edited by prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, LA. Write for order form with costs for subscription. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |
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The Paperback Shop
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Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Vendors and Publishers |
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Turning the Tide: Journal of Inter-communal Solidarity Published by Anti-Racist Action - Los Angeles/People Against Racist Terror (ARA-LA/PART) since 1988. Issues released at least quarterly; 5-6 issues some years. Free to prisoners; subscriptions for non-prisoners are $12 for low income; $20 regular; $30 international/institutional; $50 sustainer. Payable to "Anti-Racist Action" at above address. Back issues may be available. |
Books, Magazines, and Publishers, Newsletters and Magazines |