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History

Located in the Claremont Forum’s Bookshop & Community Gallery in Claremont’s historic Citrus Packing House, The Prison Library Project was been a Claremont institution since 1986 and is now a major service project of the Claremont Forum, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich lives through education, arts, and wellness programs.

The Prison Library Project has grown into a sizable volunteer organization with a distinct vision and identity. The purpose of the Project is to supply books free of charge to any inmate who requests them. We try to provide an ongoing invitation to prisoners to embrace responsibility, growth, and a deeper appreciation for the world of books, ideas, and education.

The Prison Library Project is committed to the idea that reading is crucial for prisoners who often had substandard educations and scant access to books through prison libraries. It is also vitally important to build a connection between people living on both sides of prison walls.
In 2006, the PLP celebrated it’s 30th year serving inmates nationwide. Last year alone, the Project sent over 10,000 books to individual in prisons all over the United States. Each week the Project receives about 200 letters, some from inmates who are writing for the first time and others who have written to us for several years. The books are for inmates to keep and are frequently passed on to other inmates or prison libraries. Since 1986, the PLP has also compiled, published, and distributed the Ways & Means Resource List - a list of resources for prisoners around the country. The Ways & Means Resource List provides prisoners with information about places they and their families can turn for support, advocacy, health care information, and outlets for their creativity.

The Prison Library Project is a clearinghouse through which new, used, overstocked, or defective books are donated by publishers, bookstores, and individuals from all over the country. The Project depends entirely on these donations for the reading material we pass on to inmates and other groups.

The Prison Library Project is supported by contributions for both its literature supply and financial needs. In 2009, the operational costs for rent, postage, supplies, etc. continue to rise. The Prison Library Project is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

The Prison Library Project continues to grow and to gain attention, world wide. We have expanded our services to include recovery groups, homes for abused women and children, and veterans. Only with ongoing support can The Prison Library Project continue to exist and meet the ever increasing requests from inmates and other groups in their search for new direction and purpose.
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