Book Access Program
Support books inside — sent the way facilities allow
We help fund permitted reading, education and reentry materials through facility-compliant channels. Because facility rules differ, please do not mail books directly in our name.
A separate program
The Book Access Program is not commissary. Commissary grants credit official institutional trust accounts; the Book Access Program funds permitted reading material through approved vendors and library partners. Keeping the two distinct keeps the mission clear to correctional staff, donors, applicants and auditors.
Program status
Launching soon. The Book Access Program begins with a small, fixed monthly budget after the grant program has demonstrated stable operations. No book orders are being placed today.
How books reach a reader
Delivery methods and rules
| Method | Recommendation | Delivery rule |
|---|---|---|
| Donor funds a book | Preferred | We purchase a new, permitted title from an approved vendor and ship only after facility verification. |
| Curated book grant | Preferred | We make a controlled grant to a prison library or literacy partner with a confirmed distribution process. |
| Specific title request | Possible later | Accepted only when the item is permitted, the vendor is approved and the facility accepts the delivery path. |
| New books from a publisher or bookstore | Case-by-case | Must be ordered directly from an approved source, with order and delivery records retained. |
| Used-book drive | Not launching initially | Requires sorting, storage, policy screening, shipping funds and facility-by-facility acceptance. |
Federal facilities generally allow books and magazines to be received directly from a publisher, subject to restrictions, while packages from home usually require prior written approval. State, county, local and privately operated facilities each use different rules, so every shipment is checked against the receiving facility first.
What readers choose
Plain categories, no personal disclosures
No one is asked to reveal their offense, reading level, religious beliefs or personal story to receive a book. Requests use plain-language categories, and facility rules decide the final availability of every title.
Rather than mailing books, you may fund a verified Book Access Grant. We purchase or support approved materials through facility-compliant channels, which reduces rejected packages and helps your contribution reach a reader.
Fund a Book Access GrantOffer books, royalties or creative rightsWhat we track
Order acceptance, facility rejection, delivery confirmation, title and category, cost and program reach are recorded for every book funded, and reported in aggregate only.