Books to Prisoners

ABOUT: UC Books to Prisoners is an Urbana Illinois based project providing books to incarcerated individuals in Illinois at no cost by mail as well as through the county jail library which we operate.

Throughout the year, we will be collecting books - check here for upcoming and past collection information.

Fall 2024

Thank you to everyone who donated! Some of our members at the October 12, 2024 book sale!

What type of books should you save/bring to donate to Books to Prisoners:

High demand topics

Books to Prisoners can use books on almost any topic, but some are in high demand and we never have enough to fill our requests. We can use hardcover books, but paperbacks are best because 3 prisons will not accept hardcover books.

Dictionaries and Thesauri, especially college-level and above, in paperback especially Almanacs
One-volume desk encyclopedias
Large-print Bibles
Guides to trades such as carpentry, plumbing, auto repair - even books aimed at homeowners would be helpful
GED prep books, especially Math
Basic computer use - fairly up to date
Drawing and painting techniques
Chess, basic and intermediate
Current music - Rap, Hip-hop and other
Sports almanacs
Money management, especially personal finance
Starting a small business
Addiction and recovery
History, especially USA, Britain and Japan
African-American history
Biographies of Black Americans, especially men
Black Power
Urban Fiction
Manga and Anime