Prison Book Program is an American non-profit organization that sends free books to people in prison.[1] While the organization is based in Massachusetts, it mails packages of books to people in prisons in 45 U.S. states, as well as Puerto Rico and Guam.[2] The program receives letters from people in prison asking for specific titles or genres, which volunteers use to put together a package of books chosen from a small library of donated books.[3] The organization is run out of the basement of the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts.[4] Kelly Brotzman currently serves as Executive Director.[2]
History
editPrison Book Program was started in 1972 by volunteers working out of the Red Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a leftist bookstore.[1] From 1982-2000, the program was housed in the basement of the Red Sun Press, a print shop in Jamaica Plain.[1] In 2000, volunteers moved to a space in downtown Boston before settling in PBP's current headquarters in the basement of the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts in 2004.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Sweeney, Emily. "Quincy program celebrates 40 years of sending books to inmates - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ a b Reid, Levan (2022-05-16). "Prison Book Program gives inmates opportunities to learn - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ Whitfill, Mary. "'Power of books' still strong at Quincy program for inmates". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ Yunen, Thalia. "Prison Book Program draws attention of Suffolk students". The Suffolk Journal. Retrieved 2024-03-19.