Executive Director--Missouri Prison Books

Executive Director--Volunteer position

Missouri Prison Books is a small 501c-3 organization based in Saint Louis with an office on Skinker Boulevard just a few blocks north of Forest Park Parkway. We maintain a library of about 4,000 books, nearly all of which have been donated to us.

All of our work is carried out by volunteers. We inspect donated books to ensure they have no stickers or marking. We catalog them and file them on our shelves. We read letters sent to us by inmates requesting books, then we select books that match their requests. We then create book packages to be sent, and we take the packages to the US Post Office. We maintain a presence at a few farmers' markets where we offer books for free and engage the public to make them aware of the difficulties that inmates face in obtaining books.

The Executive Director would ideally come in person to the office two or three times a month, and would be in regular contact by email with the Board of Directors. Time spent at the office would be no more than one or two hours: checking mail, ensuring that any checks and cash from donations or other sources are deposited into the checking account, ensuring the office is in good order, becoming familiar with volunteer sessions-- book sorting, selecting, and mailing; info booths at farmers' markets.

In particular we are looking for a volunteer who can help us grow financially. We have the ability to obtain and mail more books, but we are constrained by the cost of the mailings-- right at $5.00 per package (two books). This year we are sending about 1,000 packages, but we think we could handle 2,000.

The ED would also be someone who could help us negotiate our way with the Missouri Department of Corrections. A recent lawsuit brought by the First Amendment Clinic of Washington University has resulted in a settlement with MODOC, one that should allow us once again to send books to Missouri inmates like we currently do to persons in Illinois and Indiana. The ED would be the person to ensure that we are in full compliance with any requirements set by MODOC and would deal with any prison administrator who might reject our packages.

In order for us to grow, we need to become more visible in the community. The ideal ED would be someone who would be able to connect with other not-for-profit organizations, has an idea of where to apply for grants, and is willing to submit grant applications.

There are a few adminstrative duties: ensuring that filings with the secretary of state and the IRS are current, that insurance is renewed annually, and that our webpage and email subscriptions are current.