Our Projects
Free Book Program
Since 2006, every week we have gotten together to open prisoners’ letters, read their requests, and search through our library to find the books they want. We send a wide range of texts, ranging from dictionaries and GED study guides to Grisham novels, Greek philosophy to radical history.
Zine Catalog
In addition to books, we also make available thousands of “zines,” small booklets on contemporary political subjects like race, gender, direct action, anarchism, popular history, and anti-prison struggles. As we are able to provide multiple copies of these, prisoners are able to form study groups and themselves engage other prisoners in these topics. Study groups like these have popped up in a number of prisons throughout the South. Ideally, these groups can be a catalyst for prisoner organizing on the inside, as well as function as a form of dialogue between radicals on both sides of the prison walls. A copy of our catalog can be seen here.
Prison Abolitionist Reading Group
In the Spring of 2009, collective members began meeting to plan out a regular prison abolitionist reading group for anyone who is working with our group, or is working with prisoners in some other fashion, or who has done time themselves. Prisoners we correspond with have also started getting involved, reading the same texts and sharing thoughts via the mail. This group currently meets once a month, and covers topics such as mental health in prisons, histories of prison rebellions and organizing, social theory as related to the prison-industrial complex, the economic elements of the prison-industrial complex, and many others. To find out about the next reading group time, email us at prisonbooks@gmail.com.
Prisoner Publication
Starting in 2007 our collective has published prisoners’ art, writing, and poetry, as well as interviews with and essays by political prisoners in our regular publication Words of Fire. We printed our sixth edition in fall of 2010. This publication is a way for prisoners to reach each other and share ideas, as they are sent to dozens of facilities throughout the South.
Political Prisoner Posters
Starting in February 2010 we have hosted a monthly birthday card writing night to send words of solidarity and support to political prisoners celebrating a birthday that month. Additionally we nationally distribute posters featuring these prisoners to over 130 different groups and individuals, many of whom have used the posters as a resource to start their own card writing night. To view past posters, just click on the corresponding month:
- March 2010
- April 2010
- May 2010
- June 2010
- July 2010
- August 2010
- September 2010
- October 2010
- November/December 2010
- January 2011
- February 2011
- March 2011
- April 2011
- May 2011
- June 2011
- July/August 2011
- August 2011
- September 2011
- October 2011
- November/December 2011
- January 2012
- February 2012
- March 2012
- April 2012
- May 2012
Marie Mason’s birthday is Jan 26th (not 25th), 1962.
I would like to get books for my brother that in prison. He is interested in suspense and Philosophy books. His name is: Lawrence Smith TDCJ#1594573
His location is Clements Unit, 9601 Spur 591 Amarillo, TX 79107
Unfortunately we cant send to TX prisons; we only do MS, AL and NC. BUt you can find the address of a similar group in Texas (austin i believe) that will, by just searching for texas or austin books to prisoners…it should come up. good luck!
I am trying to get books sent to a penfriend of mine and other inmates who are on Deathrow in Parchman, Mississippi. Please can you advise me how to go about this.
Hey John,
Just have them write to us at 405 w. franklin st. chapel hill nc 27516 with whatever kinds of books they want, and we will get it to them!
Can I just let you know the kind of books he wants as he has already written to me with this information? i.e. fantasy, western or espionage genres. The rules are probably familiar to you: 3 new or used paperback books per package and the sender’s name and address clearly written on the front.
His name is Roger Gillett # 133700, Unit 29 – J, Parchman, Mississippi 38738.
Many thanks!
Cool thanks for the information! We actually just sent him a package of similar books this past week!
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I am not sure if you got my last message but are you able to send the kind of books I mentioned to my prison penpal?
Thanks, John.
aaaaaaI tried to find a spot to request a book but guess i will do it here. Jessie M Brooks II AIS # 2229517 Dorm B2 Bed 78 B Elmore Correctional Facility 3520 Marion Spillway Rd Elmore, AL 36025 Thank you!!!!!!!
What kind of books does jessie want? You can also email us at prisonbooks@gmail.com