Volunteer
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 join us at monthly orientation sessions. Contact us at volunteer@booksthroughbars.org to sign up for the next orientation. Individual volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
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 can drop in to any of our regular sessions on Monday and Thursday nights, 6:30-8:30 pm. (Please do not attend a drop in session if you haven’t attended an orientation!)
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-1:30 pm and 1:30 pm-3:30 pm. These sessions are often booked well in advance. If you're interested in volunteering with a group, please fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to schedule. Groups are limited to 15 people due to space constraints.
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.