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Donations

Prison Library Donations

We prefer monetary donations to purchase needed items.
We accept some book donations – please read below carefully before contacting us to donate books.

How to Donate Newer, Gently Used Books

We only take books that meet our donation guidelines and subject interests. When ready to donate, email mla.plcdonate@gmail.com with a photo (preferred) or the titles to review. A drop-off location will then be emailed to you.

If your book donations are not suitable for our needs, please check out this list of other organizations accepting used books.

We provide high quality, current and relevant books for several correctional centres in Manitoba. We can only accept:

  • recent and excellent condition (approx. 5 years)
  • paperback
  • books that are on our subject lists and Amazon list below

We cannot take textbooks, magazines, encyclopedias, hardcover or spiral-bound books, or religious texts.

Please do not donate books without contacting us first. Unwanted donations overwhelm our resources!

What to Donate/Buy:

FICTION
Action / adventure novels
Comics and Graphic Novels
Mystery, horror, suspense and thrillers
Science fiction, fantasy
Indigenous-authored novels

Favourites in fiction: James Patterson, John Grisham, Drew Hayden-Taylor, Stephen King, Katherena Vermette, David A. Robertson, Richard Wagamese, Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin.

Favourite series: Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien), Harry Potter (JK Rowling), The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), Twilight (Stephenie Meyer), Fifty Shades (EL James), Vampire Chronicles (Anne Rice), Game of Thrones/Song of ice and Fire (George R.R. Martin).

NON-FICTION
Addiction, healing and recovery
Astrology, spirituality and dreams
Beading and learn to draw
Canadian basic legal/law (within 3 years)
Biography and memoir (especially overcoming obstacles)
First Nations, Inuit and Metis teachings, culture, history (Indigenous-authored especially)
Indigenous language learning (e.g. Ojibwe, Cree, Michif)
Language learning (e.g. learn French, Arabic, Spanish, American Sign Language)
Literacy (e.g. high school subjects, GED, math workbooks)
Self-help (e.g mental health, CBT, mindfulness)
Health and fitness (e.g. men’s health, simple workouts, yoga, personal wellness)
“Dummies”, “Idiot’s Guide to” and Eyewitness series on history, science, craft

Need a suggestion on what to donate or buy? Here are a few titles:
(please make sure you select paperback when ordering)

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Wînipêk by Niigaan Sinclair (hardcover only currently; we have one site that can use)
Pocket Guide to Ojibwe by Pat Ningewance
Beginning Cree by Solomon Ratt
When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate
James Patterson (any paperback title!)
Lord of the Rings series by JRR Tolkien 
Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett
This Place: 150 years retold by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm
Bead Talk by Carmen Roberston 
Basic math, algebra (or similar)
Men’s Health Gym Bible 

Please always contact us before every donation to ensure you are donating what we can use. Our email is monitored by volunteers – we aim to respond within 4 days. Thank you for your patience!

Buy Books for Prisons

  1. ADULT BOOKS: Visit our list on Amazon.ca and your gift will be sent directly to us.
    • Or, select items from the Amazon or our needs posted above and purchase locally from McNally Robinson instead. Email us for a drop-off location.
    • Or, select items from our lists or needs posted above and purchase locally from Highwater Press (an imprint of Portage & Main Press that publishes stories by emerging and established Indigenous writers). Email us for a drop-off location.
  2. MANITOBA YOUTH CENTRE (MYC) BOOKS: Visit our specially curated wishlist on Amazon_MYC and your gift will be sent directly to us.
    • Or, select items from the Amazon or our Wish Lists and purchase locally from McNally Robinson: Kids & Teens instead. Email us for a drop-off location.
    • Or, select items from our various wish lists and purchase locally from Portage and Main Press (publishes a wide range of stories and innovative and practical educational resources.) Email us for a drop-off location.

Donate Money
We greatly appreciate monetary donations. Our volunteer librarians will purchase materials in high need areas. Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.

There are three ways to donate:

  1. Use the “Donate” button on this site to donate via PayPal. Please select “Prison Libraries Committee donation” from the drop-down menu.
  2. Visit our CanadaHelp page and choose either: ‘Prison Libraries Committee’ or ‘Joe Big George Memorial Fund’ from the dropdown menu.
  3. Cheques can be mailed to the Manitoba Library Association at 606-100 Arthur St. Winnipeg, MB R3B 1H3. Please specify “Prison Libraries Committee” (general donation) or ”Joe Big George” (focused donation for Indigenous materials) on the memo line to direct your donation.