Volunteering Year-Round

What do volunteers do during the rest of the year?

Processing donations — sorting, placing, pricing, packing and storing — require a considerable amount of effort by a large number of volunteers throughout the year.

Sorting

Sorting requires a certain level of knowledge of books that is acquired by experience, dedication, and a willingness to learn. The physical process requires a degree of dexterity and fitness. Sorters need to be detail oriented.

Sorters examine each donated volume to determine:

• Is the particular item saleable?
• If not, should it be donated to another cause, or recycled?
• If suitable for sale, is the item rare and/or valuable? Is it otherwise collectible because it is signed, inscribed? what is the edition, printing or state (or issue) of the book? Is it an author’s first book? A limited edition?

Placing

Physical effort is required in moving carts loaded with books around the work area, and delivering books to the appropriate station.

Pricing

Certain books, largely fiction, can be priced using a simple formula provided by the Friends. Other subjects require a more subjective assessment and pricing within more general guidelines which are provided. A degree of knowledge of the subject area is beneficial.

Packing

Packing books for storage is extremely important for the safety of the books and for the Friends’ staff and volunteers and contributes significantly in the economic use of limited storage space. Packing requires a degree of physical work, but not the handling of full and potentially heavy boxes.

Storing

Volunteers may, if they are able, transfer boxes of priced items to carts. The delivery to storage areas and the physical stacking of boxes is undertaken by paid staff.

Interested in volunteering year-round? Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 434.977.8467.