The Jail library group volunteers perform library duties inside of the Dane County Public Safety Building(PSB) and City County Building(CCB) where jail residents reside. These duties include: filling inmate requests in the library space and loading them on the materials cart for deputies to deliver to residents, helping inmates record themselves reading books to their children through Kids' Connection and organizing the donations that are received in the provided library space.
Volunteer Orientation
In order to volunteer in the jail, volunteers are required to first attend an orientation at the PSB. These typically are conducted on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Here are a few other things you can expect to happen in orientation:
Please find the next orientation sign up Coming Soon!
- They will ask that you leave your belongings in a provided locker outside of the jail area
- Take about 2-3 hours to complete
- Volunteers will get a guided tour of the jail and the library space
- An Officer will go through the safety rules and regulations
- You will have your finger prints and picture taken
- There will be some paperwork that must be filled out for a background check
Please find the next orientation sign up Coming Soon!
Weekly Volunteering
Volunteering inside the jail occurs weekly. Once you have completed the orientation and are cleared to being volunteering you will be able to sign up to volunteer. We typically try to have 5 people volunteering each week in each area (2 at PSB, 2 at CCB, and 1 with Kids' Connection).
CCB Schedule
The CCB needs 2-3 people once per week (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) for 2-3 hours. The officers of the group will monitor the sign ups to try to ensure that there are always at least two people for a shift, but if a situation arises where you're the only person signed up for a shift, remember you never have to go in alone unless you've already gone in multiple times and you're comfortable going in solo. Please exchange phone numbers with the other person volunteering with you and please choose a meeting place prior to going to the CCB for your shift. If you forget to do this, please default to meeting at the Wilson Street Entrance. Take a look at our CCB Procedures document if you'd like a run down of what each shift is like.
PSB Schedule
The PSB needs 2-3 people once per week (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) for 2-3 hours. Please arrive at either 9AM or 1PM for your shift to avoid meal times and head counts. Be in contact with the person you're sharing your shift with beforehand so you can choose when to volunteer, who will bring newspapers, and who will print the request spreadsheet. Bring 12 copies of each newspaper for the 12 pods at the PSB, and remove the staples from any stapled papers before going into the jail. If a situation arises where you're the only person signed up for a shift, you do not have to go.
Sign-up
Volunteers may sign up for shifts here. Below are some upcoming dates and availability: Coming Soon!
CCB Schedule
The CCB needs 2-3 people once per week (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) for 2-3 hours. The officers of the group will monitor the sign ups to try to ensure that there are always at least two people for a shift, but if a situation arises where you're the only person signed up for a shift, remember you never have to go in alone unless you've already gone in multiple times and you're comfortable going in solo. Please exchange phone numbers with the other person volunteering with you and please choose a meeting place prior to going to the CCB for your shift. If you forget to do this, please default to meeting at the Wilson Street Entrance. Take a look at our CCB Procedures document if you'd like a run down of what each shift is like.
PSB Schedule
The PSB needs 2-3 people once per week (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) for 2-3 hours. Please arrive at either 9AM or 1PM for your shift to avoid meal times and head counts. Be in contact with the person you're sharing your shift with beforehand so you can choose when to volunteer, who will bring newspapers, and who will print the request spreadsheet. Bring 12 copies of each newspaper for the 12 pods at the PSB, and remove the staples from any stapled papers before going into the jail. If a situation arises where you're the only person signed up for a shift, you do not have to go.
Sign-up
Volunteers may sign up for shifts here. Below are some upcoming dates and availability: Coming Soon!