Individuals 

Being a volunteer-powered organization, B2P welcomes people with many different skills and interests to perform the tasks necessary to ensure fulfillment of our mission. At the heart of it all is the opportunity to read letters from people incarcerated throughout the state who want something to read, and selecting books from our donated book collection in response to their requests. Some people volunteer as often as once a week, others more occasionally.

• Training is required for new volunteers and offered twice a month.
• If you have concerns related to a disability, please review our detailed accessibility information. The IMC is wheelchair accessible however the work space for Books to Prisoners is not easily accessible for chair  users. We ask people to contact us in advance to ensure we can make accommodation and have work available in an accessible area.
• Our work sessions are 2 hours and limited to 10 people.
• Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult volunteer.

To learn how to get started, send an email to [email protected]

Volunteer Groups

A modest space and budget unfortunately limit what we can offer in the way of extra sessions that are restricted to a group or club. We already schedule three to four weekly volunteer sessions. 

So to book a private session for a group of more than five people, we require your group makes a contribution to B2P’s mission beyond the volunteer session, such as helping at our book sales, organizing a targeted book drive, or donating financially.

To learn more about volunteering as a group please review B2P’s policy on private group sessions  and send an email to [email protected]

Where to go:

Our Volunteer can enter by the stairs located on the South side of the building. Our ramp entrance is north of the building, off Elm Street. These entrances are separate from the buildings main entrance. Once you enter, continue straight down the basement corridor, until you find Book to Prisoners on your left. 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.

The 5 Green bus from the Illini Union will take students to Broadway and Elm adjacent to the Lincoln Square Mall and Hotel Royer. For those driving free parking is available in the area including on the east or south sides of the building, in the parking structure at the northwest corner of Broadway and Elm, or in front of the Common Ground Co-op.

Jail Library

UC Books to Prisoners stocks, staffs and operates a small lending library in Champaign County's jail. 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 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. Currently the Jail schedules our services for Friday mornings.

To learn more about becoming a Jail “librarian” send an email to  [email protected]