Thank You Letter Hall of Fame

Below are just a few of the nice letters we’ve received from book recipients over the past few years. Click a letter to enbiggen; the information button (i) shows the transcription for easier readin’.

Dear Sir slash Madam, I would like to begin this letter by thanking you for your continued support to prisoners. It is because of programs such as yours that encourage and enable the advancement of literacy. You guys can consider yourselves heroes by cultivating understanding and environment where books change lives. I appreciate the books you previously sent to me. I could not have picked better had I picked them myself. We are allowed paperback or hardback books. I enjoy books pertaining to Hinduism, yoga, eastern philosophy, and history. Again thank you for all you do. Sincerely, John

Hello! A few months ago you sent me three of the best books ever. Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible, Rushdie’s Sabbath’s Theater, and Nabokov's Speak, Memory. Oh man! I was in heaven! Thank you so much for taking the time to look in my list and find me the books I really wanted. I'm a 37 year old female who's been locked up for 17 years. I've only written you once before, but I'm still really grateful for what you guys are doing for us. Books are my whole world... I have my wishlist enclosed, along list of stamps to help with postage. Thank you! Jenn

I want to say thank you on behalf of the men of this prison facility. Your reading promotes growth and peace. We love you and are very blessed by your love. The books you send are given to others and often never seen again because of the size of this facility and they are passed off to another after another after another. thank you, William Adams

Thank you very much for the Spanish language books. While we have a well stocked prison library we have few Spanish language book, but a large population of Hispanic inmates. Thanks, James R prison librarian

To Louisiana books to prisoners: This is not a request, simply a thank you and to let you know I am in receipt of your selections. Your turn around time was amazing, two weeks compared to five months for the first delivery. Obviously there are no restrictions at this facility regarding your mailings. Whomever it was that made the book selections chose wisely. I appreciate everyone's effort and look forward to the next brown package full of knowledge and understanding. Glad to see you are helping the environment and recycling shopping bags. Go green and go clean! Many thanks, Michael

Dear books to prisoners, I received the three Spanish books you sent me: Infamias Cotidianas, Historia del Abasto, and Nueva Literature de Norteamerica. Thank you very much. And as usual I will continue to donate these books to the main library as soon as I finish with them. Oh, by the way, some of the older Latinos really enjoyed one of the last books sent by you a few months ago: Guerra in el Paraiso. Once again, thanks; you truly are a blessing. Muchas gracias. Sincerely, Leo Pineyro

To whom it may concern, I just received your three books you graciously sent me. Thanks so much! The books came quicker than I imagined, and could not have been more perfectly selected if I had selected them myself. In my initial request to you, I probably generically stated my preferences as such: classic lit, non fiction on writing, and spiritual non Christian. What did your wonderful volunteers choose? Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”: classic lit. Stephen King’s “On Writing”: nonfiction. And a book by a 13th century Japanese man responsible for introducing Buddhism and his culture. Talk about perfect! Frankenstein is already being enjoyed by another until I get through the book I'm slowly plodding through, “Eragon”, while I lent into the nonfiction book to a buddy who is totally into Japanese culture; well I'm selfishly hoarding the king book, given my interest in writing. All, I assure you, will be donated to our library once used. Again, thanks so much for the services you provide! Best!

Hello, thank you very much for the books you sent me last week. When the deputy came in and handed me those three books I felt like I had one a damned prize or something. I will be living in mid-city on South Cortez St when I get out so I would like to help your project but that is a couple years away yet. Anyway, I really appreciate what you guys are doing. Brandon

Dear Books to Prisoners, I would like to thank all of you good people for all the good that you do. I am the chief cataloguer in the prison’s main prison library. I have given your address to over a dozen guys and the ones who have received books by tell them to always write back and give their thanks. This is a wonderful program you have established. I have a list of organizations like yourself who give books to the incarcerated, but none comes close to your generosity. Although I have written to a few others, you are the only organization who have ever sent me anything and I am truly grateful. The last three books I received hit me right on the money. Anything I can learn from is always welcomed. When I finish with the books I catalog them into the main prisons library for all to enjoy. I see that you have included some information dealing with law. That is something that all inmates here should be interested in and I thank you again for your caring. I personally have written to over three organizations dealing with innocence and injustice. to have your freedom subjugated for a crime that never occurred is heartrending. I thank you again for all of your considerations and hope to hear from you again soon. Sincerely, Garrett

Dear books of prisoners, first of all I would like to thank you for the books you sent me last month. all of them were amazing and instrumental for my personal growth. Project management and starting a small business have given me tremendous insight on how to manage my time, and create a profitable small business. I would greatly appreciate it if you can send me more business books. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely James

Books to Prisoners, I want to thank you for everything you do for people locked up. I just seen your address in a resource paper and I had to write. I'm at USP and we are always locked down. Today is Christmas and all we got was a sack lunch. It's the worst prison I have ever been in. But I'm just thankful. What helps is books. Since we can't leave ourselves all we can do is read. We pass around a few books we have. So I do share everything I receive from home. But my family don't have money to send books that often. So y'all are lifesavers. Well we can have up to five books at a time. they can be older new, hard or soft cover. I really love fantasy novels. We have a library here but people done stole all the books from there. I also like westerns but really I will read anything you send. Thank you for everything. Corey

Hi I'm Larry and I would like to thank you for the books y'all sent to me. I would like to see if y'all have any advanced drawing books, you know like how to draw portraits clothing, landscapes, etc. I also like the author Kim Harrison. I must say what y'all are doing for inmates like myself, helps us more than you'll ever know. For me reading is an escape, a much needed one. I hope y'all keep up the good work. Larry

To all the volunteers, forgive me for not getting this thank you note out sooner. You all filled my request beyond my expectations. 1 bird book. So wonderful. 2 bound for glory by Woody Guthrie. Woody is like myself, from Oklahoma. How cool is that. 3. Indian Givers. so dear to my heart because the book talks about Creek Indians and I'm half Creek Indian. Thank you all so very much. God bless, Kevin

Louisiana B 2 P, I can’t thank you enough for sending me books. Books to me are a source of light in this dark world I’m temporarily in. I greatly appreciate you all. I’ve just learned that you’ve changed the time limit to one month! So here I am again! As always I am content with whatever it is that you send. I can’t be picky. And rest assured that any books you send get passed along or donated to the unit library. I am interested in any science books as well as novels. The bigger the book, the longer I get to read it. I’m not picky. Your organization is greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless you. Sincerely, Ethan

Dear Books Through Bars, My name is Alvin, I'm 21 years old doing a 10 year bid in Louisiana. I stumble across y'all address while reading Hill Harper "Letter to an Incarcerated Brother." I'm trying to find out what do I have to do to start receiving books from you all? Do it cost me anything or is it free? I just started reading books about a year ago and I'm really enjoying every min of it. I hope and pray that my letter falls in the hands of a Godly person who understand how much books means to a young Black man who's trying to educated himself. One thing I learn about reading, although I'm physically in jail, my mind is all over the world when I read. "Mentally free!" Y'all books will be very appreciated. P.S. If y'all can, I would like to read books about where I came from "as a Black Man

I'm asking you all to help me obtain "The Official Guide to the Hi SET Exam High School Equivalency Test, Second Edition. Dictionary/Thesaurus. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. I haven't ever received a package from you all or even my family. I'm at a point in my life to where I'm rehabilitating myself and fixing what I done messed up! As for my GED, that's a personal goal that I've set & will do anything in my power to get achieved! I want to give you all a "Special Thank You" for being there for us inmates, when we need special materials, that will HELP US prevail and to HELP Us go back into society & be a protective citizen somewhere down the line! Thank you & may GOD Bless... Dwaun

Hello, I am writing this request on behalf of another inmate. Jeremiah is learning to read and needs some low-level (maybe 3rd grade) readers and work books. As the Camp C librarian, I know we have exhausted what few resources we have of this type. His mailing Address: Jeremiah ____, Camp C, Wolf 4, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, LA 70712

Copies of 2001: A Space Odyseey, a Michael Chrichton book, and Flowers for Algernon. A note reads: "Inmate said fuck these books. 10/31/19"