Books Through Bars is a volunteer-run organization. Our work wouldn't be possible without the dedication, generosity, and talent of folks who use their free time to serve incarcerated people. One of the most important tasks our volunteers do is carefully reading the letters we receive, picking books for each request from our library, and invoicing and packing the books.

We now ask all in-person volunteers to wear masks while in our space. Please plan to bring your own or grab one as you walk in!

Individual volunteers

New volunteers can now join us at monthly orientation sessions. Contact us at volunteer@booksthroughbars.org to learn more and sign up for the next orientation.

Returning volunteers

We love when volunteers return again and again, developing a deeper understanding of our library and the people we serve. After you’ve attended an orientation, you’ll receive information about our weeknight drop-in volunteer sessions.

Once volunteers become comfortable with our basic work, they often expand to other needed tasks, such as letter logging, hosting, fundraising, and library organization. If you’ve volunteered a few times and would like to get more involved, please talk to the host about how to do so!

VOLUNTEER GROUPS

When you volunteer as part of a group, you help us knock out a lot of letters, use our hosts' time efficiently, and control the number of people in our space. You don’t have to be an official organization; groups of friends are fine!

We welcome pre-scheduled volunteer groups for two time slots each Saturday: 11:30 am-1:25 pm and 1:35 pm-3:30 pm. Because of overwhelming interest, our sessions are usually booked well in advance. If you're interested in coming with a group, please fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to schedule. Groups are limited to 15 people and group sessions are subject to cancelation if COVID case numbers rise in Philadelphia.

Stay in the Know

We sometimes put out calls for one-off volunteer opportunities, some of which can be done from home. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to hear about virtual volunteering opportunities as they arise.