The DC Books to Prisons Project provides a critical link between citizens who are incarcerated and those outside prison walls by sending donated reading material to prisoners and educating the public about issues surrounding prisoner education and literacy.
Since 1999, a concerned all-volunteer group of individuals has been responding to requests from prisoners around the country for books. We also develop and support local prison libraries.
There are a number of similar programs throughout the country, so if you are looking to get involved and are not in the DC area, check out this website first for a group in your area.
Unlike some programs, we do not limit requests to a particular geographic area or, for example, to women. Thus we receive a tremendous amount of requests from prisoners around the country and are simply swamped. In the past twelve months, we have sent out close to 4,000 packages containing over 10,000 books. These packages have gone to prisoners in 150 different prisons in all 50 states.
Why We Are Needed
The U.S. has less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but more than a quarter of the world’s prisoners. Nearly one percent of American adults are incarcerated, the highest rate in the world, but many prisoners have little access to books or educational material. They face substantial barriers and are cut off from family and friends on the outside. While some prisons have libraries, many do not. Of those that do, access and selection can be extremely limited. Usually, prisoners are not allowed to receive books from friends or family. Thus, programs like ours are one of the few options available to these individuals.
Please help us in our efforts!
Financial Support:
Donations are used for postage costs and are greatly appreciated. Please send your tax deductible donation, payable to "Quixote Center" with "Books to Prisons" in the memo to:
- Quixote Center
- USA PO Box 5206
- Hyattsville, MD 20782
Volunteer
1. Come respond to prisoners' requests with us Wednesday evenings between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Foundry United Methodist Church. Send an email before you come to ensure that someone will be there when you first arrive.
Go here to be added to our yahoo group for general announcements.
2. We are also always in need of people with cars to help mail packages, help with grant applications, and individuals who might have special interest in numerous side projects (for instance working with the DC Jail, updating resource lists, compiling information about our work, etc.)
Donate Books or Educational Magazines
We prefer paperbacks because they are less expensive for us to send, but we do send hardbacks when the subject is greatly needed (more so for nonfiction than for fiction). See the bottom of this page for a list of our greatest needs.
Donate Other Items
BTP is always in need of clean (used is fine) paper grocery bags, packing tape dispensers, and scissors.
The Foundry United Methodist Church is kind enough to let us use some space in their building. The address is 1500 16th St NW, Washington DC, 20036. Located 2.5 blocks east of Dupont Circle.
To get there via metro, one can either take the red line to Dupont Circle, leave via the south entrance, walk partially around the circle to P St. and go east 2.5 blocks.
To get there via the blue/orange line, one can go to McPherson Square, leave via the White House exit, walk one block west on I St. Once you get to 16th St., wait for buses heading north (come about every 5-10 minutes or so, before 7:30). When the bus goes through the tunnel, pull the "stop requested" wire and get off at the next stop which is the intersection of P St and 16th St.
There is not a parking lot, but it is generally not too difficult to find street parking if you look around a bit.
Once you get to the church (door on 16th St.) ring the doorbell to be let in, then go downstairs to the basement. Turn left, go to end of hall, then turn right, and we are the last door on the right after the bathrooms (B2).
Volunteer Groups
We are happy to try to coordinate with groups who might be looking for an opportunity to volunteer somewhere. If you have a group but the Wednesday time does not work, contact us about trying to schedule another time. Holidays generally are unavailable, as the church is often closed.
We get a lot more donated books than we have the resources (in terms of volunteer labor and postage money) to send out! What we most need are books in these categories.
1. Dictionaries (English, Spanish-English) (by far, most popular request)
2. Atlases and almanacs
3. Learning a language (especially Spanish)
4. How-to (especially woodworking, plumbing, gardening, car mechanics, small motor repair)
5. Science and nature (including magazines like Discover)
6. Personal finance or starting a business
7. Drawing or art
8. Math or GED preparation
9. Computers or electronics (including up-to-date magazines)
10. Law
11. American Indians, Mayans, or Aztecs
12. African American, Latin American, or classical (Roman,Greek) history
13. Fiction: westerns, sci-fi, fantasy, horror/thrillers, African American authors
How to get books to us