Hey Blog! Over the past few months I have been doing some additional volunteering, mostly for my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award but also for the experience and some community service. Where? The local Oxfam Bookshop, in Belper.
Books, as one may guess, are a big part of my life. Not a day goes by without reading something. What is the best way to buy books, that is at once a lucky dip, has choice, and is cheap? Second hand bookshops. I was drawn in by the 99p specials that quickly filled my shelves instead of theirs. I have gathered so much that honestly, I need a clear-out because all my bookshelves are nearly overflowing, so maybe a return of some of the old ones is in order.
The DofE requires you to volunteer for at least six months if you’re doing Silver. I was aware that Oxfam Belper offered this, and so went in to ask – one of the people running it being an old Cub leader of mine. Once accepted, I was able to do a quick bit of training online (including: be polite, help customers, don’t pick up heavy boxes you can’t lift, and wear shoes…) and come in to work. Mostly, this has been Tuesdays, as I had to be in town anyway, but it has since changed to weekends because that’s when it’s busiest and they need most people. I have worked downstairs, in the shop and the storerooms behind, but I have also been to the online department upstairs where the more expensive and niche books are sold.
Unfortunately, it isn’t all sitting around and reading books. It’s much more work than that. There are prices to stick on books, people to direct to particular books, books to sort into children’s, adults’, throw away and dozens of other piles. There is the layout to learn, and the constant restacking and replacing where customers buy from. Occasionally the shop needs decorating, before the school holidays for instance. This means lots of standing on chairs hanging up spellbooks (currently we have a Harry Potter theme going) and carefully folding paper aeroplanes to go with them. I have sorted through CDs and DVDs, removing those that have been on display without sale for more than a few weeks, and filling up from the stock in the back room. It’s been a really valuable experience for me and I feel like I have done some good for society, or rather everyone who reads books (the best ones, of course! Except if you have a rich oral tradition which is essentially the same thing, just in vocal form rather than paper form). Getting part of a major award at the same time is also a bonus!
Am I going to continue working there? For now, definitely. I’m continuing after the DofE period runs out as well, like I did with Young Leadering at Beavers, and it all forms my version of national service – the Kit’s Voluntary Service, or KVS if you will. I prefer this to joining the army. Part of it also fosters cooperation and friendship, which removes the need for armies anyway. Currently, I will remain in the bookshop, trying not to read instead of help, and soak in the thousands of words that pass through my hands.
Warning – attempting to contact a Reading Kit when it is face first in a book, lost in a made up world, can be problematic and unsuccessful; it may say “yes” without hearing the question and take a long time to return from the pages. Approaching and engaging a Reading Kit is difficult and must be undertaken at your own cost. Habits: solitary and reclusive when in possession of a book. Reward for capture of its attention: comprehension of the intent you bothered it with.