Free Write

Educational programs in today’s prisons are inadequate to say the least. Over the years, funding for prison educational programs has been put to pay for housing, feeding, and the basic needs of the ever-increasing inmate population. Gone are the days of college education for inmates through federal Pell Grants. With few exceptions, only the most basic educational opportunities are available, and even then they are not available to the entire inmate population. Therefore, inmates who desire to improve themselves through education have to take matters into their own hands, and books are as necessary to this process as liquid is to quenching a thirst. The word “autodidact” refers to someone who is self-educated. I learned this from a dictionary that was donated to me by the Prison Book Program. The dictionary is an essential tool in the job of self-education. While many prison commissaries offer a dictionary for sale to inmates, these overpriced “pocket” dictionaries are little more than a list of the most commonly used words and are of minimal use to anyone trying to improve themselves through education. [Books] keep my mind open. Please support the Prison Book Program!

Written by Jeffrey W.
Located in State Correctional Institution at Dallas, Pennsylvania

Book Drop off and Volunteer Hours


Hours:
Tuesdays 6:30-9:00 pm
Wednesdays 1:30-4:00 pm
Thursdays 6:30-9:00 pm
Saturdays 1:00-4:00 pm

Volunteers
must sign up in advance
either just before you come or weeks in advance.

Book Drop Offs
Books can be dropped off during volunteer hours. You do not need to sign up in advance, but check the sign up page to make sure we are open.

DONATE

We need your support

The average cost of mailing a package of carefully selected books from our library is $5. Every gift helps fulfill our mission of supporting people in prison.

Checks can be mailed to:

Prison Book Program
c/o Lucy Parsons Bookstore
1306 Hancock Street
Suite 100
Quincy, MA 02169

All donations to PBP are fully tax deductible. Our EIN is 20-3235673.

DONATE TODAY

Prison Book Program relies on the support of people like you.

Just $3 covers the average cost of mailing a package of carefully selected books from our library of donated books!

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