Prison Book Program

Prison Book Program Sending free books to people in prison since 1972.

This 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 , we want to highlight the unique challenges LGBTQ+ people face inside prisons and jails. At PBP, ...
06/01/2026

This 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 , we want to highlight the unique challenges LGBTQ+ people face inside prisons and jails. At PBP, it's important to us that we show up for our LGBTQ+ readers — with books, and with resources for support and community.

In the comments below, TAG someone who you think would appreciate and support our work!

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SOURCES:
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011–12, via Prison Policy Initiative (2021) — prisonpolicy.org
Black and Pink National, via Prison Policy Initiative (2021) — prisonpolicy.org
Vera Institute of Justice & Black and Pink National, Advancing Transgender Justice: Illuminating Trans Lives Behind and Beyond Bars (2024) — vera.org
Vera Institute of Justice & Black and Pink National (2024) — vera.org
Black and Pink National, via The Appeal (2018) — theappeal.org
Uptown People's Law Center, via The Appeal (2018) — theappeal.org

Did you know that the Prison Book Program publishes a booklet called the National Prisoner Resource List? Commonly known...
05/28/2026

Did you know that the Prison Book Program publishes a booklet called the National Prisoner Resource List? Commonly known as the NPRL, this list is a helpful resource for people in prison. It gives them information about places where they (and their families) can find support, advocacy, health care information as well as lifelines to the outside community. The NPRL, upon request, is sent to people in prisons and jails free of charge. It is also available for families and friends to print and mail to their loved ones.

The NPRL also contains a few puzzles and coloring sketches, giving incarcerated people outlets for their creativity. We often receive letters from people in jail narrating that a resource shared in the NPRL helped them get the services they needed or simply made them feel less hopeless because they found a place to turn to for support.

We wanted to share a kind letter from Hector R., who was incarcerated in Massachusetts at the time and responded to one ...
05/24/2026

We wanted to share a kind letter from Hector R., who was incarcerated in Massachusetts at the time and responded to one of the questions included on the invoices sent in PBP’s book packages. Hector shared appreciation for the work of PBP volunteers and explained that the books are not only meaningful on a personal level, but are also shared among fellow incarcerated people, helping extend access to reading and learning!

We did it!!! Thanks to your votes for PBP during Project for Awesome 2026, we were selected to receive a grant that will...
05/20/2026

We did it!!! Thanks to your votes for PBP during Project for Awesome 2026, we were selected to receive a grant that will help us continue and expand our work. Every share, vote, and show of support made a difference!

Boston native Jesse Berman first learnt about the Prison Book Program a couple of years ago and has since spent his time...
05/15/2026

Boston native Jesse Berman first learnt about the Prison Book Program a couple of years ago and has since spent his time volunteering with us. Jesse's favorite job at PBP is verifying, which involves validating our readers' latest address. "I feel a sense of connection to each person when I am able to locate them, especially when they have been transferred around to various facilities and would otherwise be lost in the system," he says. "Many of the letter writers describe having no one on the outside, but because of the work we do, I take some comfort in knowing that they are not forgotten."

For his consistent volunteering efforts, Jesse is our Volunteer of the Month! Thank you, Jesse, for choosing to spend your time with us.

Did you know that we got merch? The Prison Book Program website has T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, totes, hats, and water bott...
05/12/2026

Did you know that we got merch? The Prison Book Program website has T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, totes, hats, and water bottles in a range of colors and varieties. Every purchase supports our mission to provide free books to people in prison!

Link: https://prisonbookprogram.org/shop/ #!/

Since 2014, students from the Commonwealth School have volunteered with the Prison Book Program. What began when a stude...
05/09/2026

Since 2014, students from the Commonwealth School have volunteered with the Prison Book Program. What began when a student discovered PBP for a student-organized day of service has grown into a long-standing partnership. Melissa Glenn Haber, a teacher who chaperoned the students, was deeply moved after her first volunteer session through reading letters from those incarcerated, which drew her into the importance of PBP’s work. Since then, she has continued volunteering with her family and established a monthly sign-up for Commonwealth students to volunteer at PBP. Thank you, , for sharing your reflections and for your longtime support!

We are honored to be mentioned in the NYT Wirecutter! In an article titled 'The 39 Best Gifts for Teachers' published la...
05/06/2026

We are honored to be mentioned in the NYT Wirecutter! In an article titled 'The 39 Best Gifts for Teachers' published last month, Wirecutter recommends a gift card from Better World Books, an online bargain bookseller that displays several of our wishlists. The Prison Book Program has had a long and fruitful relationship with Better World Books, going as far back as the inception of our website. Better World Books is one of our preferred vendors and encourages users on its website to contribute to PBP with purchases made by them. We are so proud to be partnering with an organization that shares our ethos of social good and justice.

Read the full article on Wirecutter here: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/best-gifts-for-teachers/

Free Comic Book Day is here! This Saturday, May 2, 2026, stop by your local comic shop to pick up one or several free co...
05/01/2026

Free Comic Book Day is here! This Saturday, May 2, 2026, stop by your local comic shop to pick up one or several free comic books to bring to PBP! Every donated book helps us continue sending free books to incarcerated readers across the country.

Link to learn more and and find participating comic shops near you!
https://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Address

1306 Hancock Street Ste 100
Quincy, MA
02169

Opening Hours

Tuesday 6:30pm - 9pm
Thursday 6:30pm - 9pm

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+16174233298

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