Share Books with Prisoners Through Word Books

By Jason Boog 

Inspired by Piper Kerman‘s prison memoir, Orange is the New BlackWord Books has created a way for readers to share books with prisoners.

You can donate to Books Through Bars directly from the Word Books website. Check it out:

Books Through Bars sends quality reading material to prisoners and encourages creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, thereby educating those living inside and outside of prison walls. Based on their books wanted guidelines, we’ve created a list of books you can purchase through us to donate. Just choose “Pick up in store,” and write BOOKS THROUGH BARS in the comments.

To find out more about sharing books with prisoners, we caught up with author and former inmate John Espinosa Nelson. Nelson is raising funds on Kickstarter for his prison memoir, Where Excuses Go to Die.

Nelson recommended these additional sites for GalleyCat readers interested in donating books to prisoners:

Chicago Books to Women in Prison
UC Books to Prisoners
Athens Books to Prisoners
The Prisoners Literature Project
Providence Books Through Bars Inc.
Women’s Prison Book Project
Read Between the Bars
Left Bank Books/Books to Prisoners
Prison Book Program