Request Books for Prisoners

We are an all-volunteer bookstore that provides books to prisoners in Florida free of charge. Here are a few things you should know before requesting books:

*** Please note that we do not take orders by phone or email. You must write to us. ***

Open Books Prison Book Project

1040 N. Guillemard St.

Pensacola, FL 32501

Free Book Ordering Information (Updated 04/2024)

We are an all-volunteer used bookstore that provides soft-cover books free of charge to prisoners in Florida. Here are a few things you should know before requesting books from us:

• We are a used bookstore and rely on donations from the public for our inventory.

• We do not have a catalog or database of books.

• We mail hundreds of book orders per month, and it may take two to three months to fill your request. Please be patient; don’t send additional requests until you receive your package. After you receive your books, please wait three months before sending another request.

• When you write to us, please clearly print or write your name, prisoner ID number, and address, both in your letter and on the outside of the envelope.

• If you are close to your release date, please don’t request books.

• We will send you three (3) books per request, unless your facility specifies a lower limit.

• Please indicate general subjects/genres/areas of interest of books you would like. You may list authors or titles, but since our inventory varies it can be difficult for us to fill specific requests. We will do our best to select books you may enjoy.

• After you finish your books, please share them with others, or donate them to your library or reading area.

• Items we cannot provide:

• Notebooks, composition books, journals, diaries, coloring books, sketch books, calendars, or greeting cards.

• Items we can provide upon request:

  • The National Prisoner Resource List (NPRL), which is a packet of information listing other prison book programs and additional resources for inmates.

  • The PARC Directory, which is a publication containing resources for inmate rehabilitation.

  • Things to do while you are waiting, a book to help prepare inmates approaching release for life on the outside. Includes information on getting a job, managing money, starting a business, setting goals, and resources. *Please request this book only if you are due to be released within the next year.

We do not provide legal assistance or materials. For a copy of the Jailhouse Lawyer Handbook, published by the Center for Constitutional Rights and National Lawyers Guild, write to: National Lawyers Guild, PO Box 1266, New York, NY 10009-8941.