Open Books is a non-profit, volunteer-run bookstore. Proceeds from the sale of books and donations support the Prison Book Project, operating since 2000. The Prison Book Project currently sends around 10,000 books each year to indigent inmates in Florida prisons, one of the largest prison systems in the country and one sorely lacking in-house book collections. The Prison Book Project currently serves approximately 2,000 inmates each year.
They provide free books to improve the lives of prisoners, to provide educational resources, and to help reduce the likelihood of their returning to the prison system. Our communities fare better when prisoners returning to society have had an opportunity to learn, grow, and mature as individuals. Books provide the inspiration and knowledge for that growth.
Each month they process around 600 inmate book requests at a cost of around $1000 for mailing. The book store operating costs (rent, utilities, maintenance) run around $500, so they operate on a modest budget of around $1,500/month.
Prisoners simply have to send a letter with their requests and Open Books sends them books. While the Open Books bookstore has a wide selection of new and used books, the selection that has been donated to the Prison Book Project is limited. Open Books does its best to find something that fits the interests of the prisoner.
Open Books is a grass-roots project that really works! Donate here.
Open Books Bookstore & Prison Book Project
1040 N. Guillemard St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 453-6774
Open 12 – 5 | 7 Days a week.