Library Book Sorting & Shelving
📍 Los Angeles Central Library, 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
34.047970° N -118.253910° W Get directions ↗
About this task
The Central Library is running a significant backlog of returned and donated books that need sorting, cataloguing, and shelving. Literacy starts on the shelf.
Books returned and donated faster than staff can process them means readers can’t find what they need. Your afternoon here directly improves access to knowledge for thousands of Angelenos every week.
How to complete
- Report to the volunteer desk in the main lobby and ask for the Collections team.
- Attend a 15-minute orientation covering the Dewey Decimal sections you'll be working in.
- Sort returned books from the trolleys into subject-area piles.
- Check each book against the provided checklist for condition — flag any damaged copies.
- Shelve books in the correct section in call-number order.
- Log the number of books shelved on your tally sheet before leaving.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes (lots of walking between stacks)
- A pen
How to submit
Once you've completed this task, email your submission to [email protected] . Scan or photograph your completed tally sheet and email it to submit. Please include the date and your name in the filename.
Notes
This task is marked urgent due to an unusually large donation intake this month. Multiple volunteers can work simultaneously — bring a friend.