A book request can be wonderfully specific: a subject someone wants to study, a genre they enjoy, a language they read. Seattle’s Books to Prisoners has built a volunteer operation around trying to meet those individual interests.
The organization traces its beginnings to Left Bank Books in the early 1970s and describes sending donated books to incarcerated people across the United States.1 A Seattle address, in this case, is the starting point of a national service. But the destination still determines whether a package can get through.
Start with what the person wants to read
The online form allows requests for someone you know and can contact, with their permission and reading interests.3 That is a useful principle for families even beyond this particular service.
Ask about subjects, genres, reading language and acceptable alternatives. An exact title may be unavailable, so a thoughtful description can be more useful than a single book name. Do not turn the request into a surprise reading assignment or assume that your own favorite book is the right choice.
Books to Prisoners works from donated stock, not an unlimited retail catalog.1 Understanding that model helps set expectations: a request gives volunteers a direction, but it is not a guaranteed order for a particular edition.
Where to send a request
The organization accepts mailed requests at Books to Prisoners, c/o Left Bank Books, 92 Pike Street, Box A, Seattle, WA 98101. Its request guidance asks for the person’s name, prison identification number and complete mailing address; people in short-term custody should include their expected length of stay.2
Families who have permission can use the online request form.3 This is one place where leaving Jail411 is necessary: the request needs to reach the organization that actually selects and mails the books.
Before submitting, compare the address against the person’s current facility information. A correct name paired with an old address is still an unreliable request. Keep a copy of what was submitted and its date so another relative does not unknowingly send the same request again.
A Seattle service cannot serve every Seattle facility
The online form’s exclusion list, marked updated September 1, 2026, includes SeaTac FDC among facilities it cannot serve.3 That is the local detail worth noticing: proximity to the organization does not override a facility restriction.
Check the service’s exclusion list before spending time on a request. Also confirm the destination facility’s current publication rules. Being absent from one list should not be treated as a blanket promise that every book or package will be accepted.
If the person has moved recently, repeat those checks for the new facility. A book service’s coverage and the facility’s mail policy are separate pieces of information; both need to fit the actual destination.
The request channels give different repeat intervals
The general request page says to wait five months between requests and warns that fulfillment can take up to four months.2 The online form gives a three-month repeat interval.3 We found both instructions on the organization’s own site; they should not be flattened into a single universal rule.
Follow the instructions for the channel you use. If a request is already pending, keep that visible in the family record instead of submitting a duplicate through the other channel. The dates help distinguish a slow request from one that was never sent.
For anyone helping through donations, the organization publishes separate book-donation guidance.4 Check it before dropping off a box. The useful contribution is material the service can accept and send, rather than simply whatever is left on someone’s shelf.
Sources & notes
Public sources reviewed September 25, 2026. Historical events retain their dates and do not establish current availability. Confirm schedules and requirements before acting.
- Books to Prisoners — Mission and history
- Books to Prisoners — How to Request Books
- Books to Prisoners — Online Request Form and exclusions (list dated September 1, 2026)
- Books to Prisoners — Donate Books
Reporting based on public documents and sources from the responsible organizations; no facility visit or original interviews are represented.