Volunteer at Nidorf
There is more than one way to volunteer with Books Beyond Bars! We also need help collecting and organizing donations, creating web content, and more!
A great deal of our work is focused on our book talks. At least once a week, a group of volunteers visit the incarcerated youth at the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. Volunteers discuss reading with youth and are able to give them two books each to keep.
If you're interested in taking part of visiting the facility and helping out with our book talks, you'll need to complete a multi-step process that may take 1-2 months.
1. Fill Out an Application
Complete a two page VISTO (Volunteers In Service To Others) application. Applications can be found on the website below:
http://probation.lacounty.gov/jobs/VISTO.pdf
2. Attend an Orientation
Submit your completed application at orientation. Orientations take place every second Friday of each month at the juvenile hall:
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall
16350 Filbert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
For more information regarding the orientations, contact Tiffany Branch:
(818) 364-6803
tiffany.branch@probation.lacounty.gov
3. Complete Livescan
If not contacted two weeks after orientation, schedule a Livescan appointment by contacting Shakeitha:
(562) 940-3695
The Livescan process must be completed at the Probation Department Headquarters located at:
9150 East Imperial Highway
Downey, CA 90242
4. Pick Up Badge
If not contacted eight weeks after your Livescan appointment, contact Tiffany Branch's office (818) 364-6803 to verify whether or not your VISTO badge is available. When it is available, schedule an appointment to go to the Barry J. Nidorf Facility to pick up the badge.
Questions? Contact us at ucla.booksbeyondbars@gmail.com
A great deal of our work is focused on our book talks. At least once a week, a group of volunteers visit the incarcerated youth at the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. Volunteers discuss reading with youth and are able to give them two books each to keep.
If you're interested in taking part of visiting the facility and helping out with our book talks, you'll need to complete a multi-step process that may take 1-2 months.
1. Fill Out an Application
Complete a two page VISTO (Volunteers In Service To Others) application. Applications can be found on the website below:
http://probation.lacounty.gov/jobs/VISTO.pdf
2. Attend an Orientation
Submit your completed application at orientation. Orientations take place every second Friday of each month at the juvenile hall:
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall
16350 Filbert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
For more information regarding the orientations, contact Tiffany Branch:
(818) 364-6803
tiffany.branch@probation.lacounty.gov
3. Complete Livescan
If not contacted two weeks after orientation, schedule a Livescan appointment by contacting Shakeitha:
(562) 940-3695
The Livescan process must be completed at the Probation Department Headquarters located at:
9150 East Imperial Highway
Downey, CA 90242
4. Pick Up Badge
If not contacted eight weeks after your Livescan appointment, contact Tiffany Branch's office (818) 364-6803 to verify whether or not your VISTO badge is available. When it is available, schedule an appointment to go to the Barry J. Nidorf Facility to pick up the badge.
Questions? Contact us at ucla.booksbeyondbars@gmail.com
Volunteer on Campus
If you can't make it to the book-talking sessions or are waiting for clearance, you can still help us out. We often need assistance sorting the books we receive through our book drives and sending thank you notes to donors. Keep an eye out for our periodic "Sortacular!"
Between classes you can help prep materials for entrance into the facility. Hardcovers must be removed. Staples must be removed as well and comics and magazines must be sewn back together. During school quarters, we will have a weekly Comic Sewing Circle. It's a great way to get to know your classmates that otherwise might not see.
You can also promote our book drive by contacting family, friends, coworkers, local businesses and others and asking them to donate used paperback books or purchase items from our Books Beyond Bars Amazon wishlist .
