Volunteer Role: The Open Books store is open for business, and we're looking for cheerful book-loving volunteers to help keep it running! Responsibilities include:

* Providing blue-ribbon customer service including greeting shoppers, checking bags, locating sections or titles, recommending books, and helping with transactions

* Assisting with daily store processes and procedures including sorting books and merchandise, stocking shelves, creating displays, and cleaning

* Promoting Open Books' mission, programs, and opportunities for involvement

* Helping to execute events such as story time, film screenings, and author sessions in the store

Requirements: Open Books Orientation, Open Books Store Application and training, and background check.

Location:
Open Books Store
213 W. Institute Pl.

Schedule: Morning, afternoon and evening shifts, weekdays and weekends, 10am-7:30pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to any three shifts a month (~10 hours) for at least three consecutive months.

Getting Started: Fill out the Volunteer Signup form and Store Volunteer signup form, then attend an orientation and store training. After that, we'll set you up with the bookstore calendar and you can sign up for the shifts that fit your schedule.

Already attended an orientation? Then just fill out the Store Volunteer signup form and we'll let you know when the next training is!

Volunteer Roles: While specialization is not a guarantee at this time, we will of course be sensitive to any limitations that prevent you from trying out all of the different roles. These include:

Scanner
Scanners are the gatekeepers for incoming book donations. Scanners first help to sort books by ISBN and non-ISBN bar codes, then scan the books through our super-simple Monsoon software to determine which books go where. The task has some minimal physical work: volunteers will need to take books out of boxes, scan them, and drop them into containers based on the system decision. This task can be completed standing or sitting down.

Shelf Maintainer
Those who thrive on order and organization will find themselves in heaven as they help shelve and compress books within the new warehouse system. Volunteers take newly listed books, shelve them according to shelf locator codes, and compress rows of books to make room for new items. This job does have some physical requirements: volunteers will be on their feet moving around.

Shelf Reader
Have an eye for detail? Shelf readers use current inventory reports to check the accuracy of the books within the locator codes. This job consists of reading the spines in each section and crosschecking the items with the printed report. The job has minimal physical requirements (though some books may need to be pulled and moved) and can be completed either sitting (on our new rolling stools) or standing.

Requirements: Open Books Orientation and background check.

Location:
Open Books Warehouse
1740 W. Webster

Schedule: Various daytime shifts throughout the work week. Volunteers are asked to commit to two (or more) shifts per month.

Getting Started: Fill out the Volunteer Signup form and attend an orientation. After that, we'll set you up with the warehouse schedule and you can sign up for the shifts that work for you.

Already attended an orientation? Then just let Ava know you're interested in helping and she will get you set up!

azeligson@open-books.org
312.475.1355 x119