Request Books

Incarcerated individuals seeking books can write to us at:

NYC Books Through Bars
c/o Bluestockings Bookstore
116 Suffolk Street
New York, NY 10002

(This address is only for book requests. Do not send us packages here.)

As a policy, capacity, and access issue, we cannot fill requests via email.

Our greetings letter explains how BTB operates, if you’d like to send to anyone inside.

We fill requests from all states except AL, FL, LA, MA, MI, MS, NC, PA, OH, and WI, with a priority for NY.

If we don’t serve your state:

Check Prison Book Program for list of more books-to-prisoner programs.

When you write to us, it will be helpful if you can follow these guidelines in your letter:

Let us know what restrictions your prison places on reading materials. For example, can you
receive hardcover books? Used books? Is an invoice required? Is there a maximum number of
books/magazines you can receive?

It is easiest for us to fulfill your request if you list subjects/genres, rather than specific
authors/titles. All our books are donated, and we do not have a catalog.
We usually have books on the following subjects:
Fiction: African-American/POC
Comics
Contemporary
Classics
Historical
Fantasy
Non fiction: Activism
American History/Civil Rights/Native American
Art and photography
Business and economics
Crafts: Chess, Food, Knitting, Puzzles
Dictionaries and Thesaurus
Health/Fitness/Self-Help
Gender and Women’s studies
Language studies
Mystery/Thriller
Poetry
Romance
SciFi
Theatre/plays
Young Adult
LGBTQIA
Memoir/biography
Music
National Geographic
Philosophy/Political Science
Science and Environment
Sports
Test Prep
World History/Politics: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East
English dictionaries are among our most popular requests, and the demand often exceeds our supply.
Therefore, we sometimes send dictionaries only to people who don’t ask for other items.
We do not carry religious literature (i.e. the Bible or the Quran), although we have some scholarly books on
religion. We rarely have almanacs, materials related to computers or vocational training, or legal resource
materials. But we can provide a resource guide where some of those other materials may be requested.

Write your name, address, ID number, and any other necessary information clearly and legibly on
your envelope and in your letter. Send your request to us at:
NYC Books Through Bars
c/o. Bluestocking Bookstore
116 Suffolk Street
New York, NY 10002
Unfortunately, we are not able to send you a personal note with your books. But we assure you that a
volunteer will carefully read your letter and do their best to match your request with books we have
available and those that are not censored by your facility. We hope you enjoy the reading material!
Yours in solidarity, NYC Books Through Bars