Form an organization of volunteers who share your interest in providing books to inmates in Minnesota. A number of states in the United States have grassroots organizations dedicated to providing books for inmates and prisons. Go online to freewebs.com for a list of different prison book projects. Reading about similar projects in other states will help to generate ideas for your organization in Minnesota.
Contact the Minnesota Department of Corrections to find out rules and regulations about book donations. Tell them about your organization and about your desire to donate books to prison libraries in different state prisons and county jails. The Department of Corrections will have specific policies and procedures that must be complied with. For example, certain books may be prohibited because of subject matter. The Department of Corrections may be contacted online at corr.state.min.us. The telephone number is 651-361-7200. The address is:
Minnesota Department of Corrections
1450 Energy Park Drive
Suite 200
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108-5219
Ask family members, friends, school and work colleagues to donate books to your books-for-prisoners organization. Many inmates read at an elementary school reading level, so all levels of books are appropriate for a prison library.
Write letters to book publishing houses and to major book retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Explain your goals, tell them about your organization, and ask for their participation.
Organize a book donation drive in different communities around Minnesota. Contact local libraries, schools, churches and community based organizations and ask for their help and support. Ask if they would be willing to set up book donation drop boxes where the public can donate books. Advertise the book donation drive with posters and with advertising spots on community radio stations.