Volunteer as an Individual | as a Group | In a Jail Library
   
Volunteer Sessions
7:00 - 9:00 PM Tuesdays
2:00 - 4:00 PM Thursdays
2:00 - 4:00 PM Saturdays

Individuals

If you'd like to get involved with our books by mail operation, you can just show up at one of our "pack-a-thons" or contact one of us to discuss our projects and opportunities to donate your skills. test

We meet three times per week at the Independent Media Center located at 202 S. Broadway in Urbana Illinois. Our Volunteer entrance is located on the South side of the building and is separate from the buildings main entrance. To find our entrance from the buildings main entrance (large staircase w/ columns) if facing the main entrance, you will need to go around the building to your right and locate the staircase to the basement which has a sign for Books to Prisoners. If the door is locked, ring the doorbell to be let in and follow the posted signs to our room in the basement then introduce yourself as a new volunteer.

Read one volunteer's recent post about his experience working with us
Volunteer Groups

We are happy to arrange for community groups to volunteer with Books to Prisoners.  We have work sessions 3 times a week; Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM, Thursday afternoon from 2-4 PM and Saturday afternoon from 2-4 PM.  During  work sessions volunteers read letters from inmates and choose books from our collection of donated books to send to inmates, package those books, and help move and sort donated books.  With advanced notice, we are able to accommodate groups of 4-10 volunteers during any of those work sessions. 

If your group is interested in scheduling a time to volunteer,please use our contact form to make arrangements.  Our Saturday afternoon session is the most popular session for groups of volunteers and tends to fill up quickly.  Occasionally we hold a 12-2 PM session on a Saturday when there are two groups that would like to volunteer with us.  Unfortunately, our rooms are not accessible by wheelchair. 

If you have a group that is larger than 10 people, we can use you to help us with book drives and our twice a year book sales.  If your group is interested in helping with a book drive or a book sale, please use our contact form to get in touch we will contact you with more information about these opportunities.



Jail Library

UC Books to Prisoners stocks, staffs and operates lending libraries in Champaign County's two jails. No experience is required to take part in this truly unique volunteer opportunity.

Champaign County requires that participants be at least twenty-one years of age and have no history of felony convictions in order to qualify.

UC Books to Prisoners asks that you can commit to working one 2-3 hour shift per month, during which you will be paired with an experienced library volunteer and provided training while you work together in a safe, enjoyable atmosphere.

More info about our jail library

Jail Library Hours of operation:
Monday 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Please contact Doris Andrechak for more information.
(217) 714-4425 or dorisandrechak[at]yahoo.com