It is the responsibility of jurisdictions and correctional systems to provide adequate libraries and obtain books for programs. PBP is keenly aware of the poor state of most correctional libraries and shares the hope that they will receive the resources and investment they need. PBP serves readers, not systems. This way, people are getting books they want to read, and they have access to their books during lockdowns and periods of library closure. In limited circumstances, PBP will supply books to facilities, but only if we receive approval to  implement our normal fulfillment process in that facility.

Nonprofit groups like Prison Book Program are the safest source of books for any correctional facility. All commercial book vendors (publishers, retailers) utilize a warehouse-based order fulfillment process: a worker retrieves the ordered item(s) and packages the item(s) for sending. Introducing contraband into books or book packages is relatively straightforward in this fulfillment process. By contrast, nonprofit prison book programs use a well-supervised, communal process for building their inventories and fulfilling orders. Our books are a mix of community donations and bulk purchases by (for example, dictionaries).

All incoming books are thoroughly inspected by a well-trained team of sorters prior to being shelved or stored. Books with signs of liquid damage or staining are always discarded. Most book orders are for genres/categories of books, not for specific titles. Orders are fulfilled in the order in which they are received, and generally every order is handled by at least four sets of volunteers, each of whom is permitted to substitute different books for a recipient. The chances of a bad actor donating a tainted book and ensuring (a) that the book is on the shelves when their person’s order is being fulfilled, (b) that the book is not chosen for a different person, (c) that their person’s order is in the fulfillment queue at just the right time, and (d) that the book is not replaced by another volunteer during the invoicing and packing processes is near zero.

Furthermore, nonprofit prison book programs do not transact money with book requestors/recipients. Books are always free. Therefore, there is no financial incentive to introduce contraband. Finally, nonprofit prison book programs are staffed by book lovers and people who want to help, not harm, incarcerated people.

Yes

Yes

Reach out to us here (link to contact form). Select [5.c. from above] from the dropdown menu. A staff member will follow up with you to add your facility to our database and ensure that any specific book rules at your facility are correctly entered. All book requests from people at your facility will be marked up with your facility’s rules prior to fulfillment.

Once we have added PBP as an approved book vendor, how can we let people at our facility know about your services?
Click here for a generic flyer explaining our services. This flyer can be modified to suit the specific rules at your facility. For all facilities, we suggest posting these flyers in the housing units. For state and federal prisons, we also recommend distributing them through your facility’s library or school.

Return the book in the original packaging, marked RTS (return to sender). The return will be at PBP’s expense  We will attempt to replace the item with a more suitable one.

Do not return the books. Add the books to your facility’s library or use them in any way you wish.

Return the book in the original packaging, marked RTS (return to sender). The return will be at PBP’s expense. We will re-send the package to the new facility.