Manhattan Public Library Receives Help from Youth Volunteers
We’re excited to share a big behind-the-scenes update: our volunteer book sorters officially have a new home base! With some changes we have made to our library’s lower level, we were able to transform a section of that space into a dedicated work area for sorting donated books—an essential task that supports our Rosie’s Corner bookstore and our annual spring booksale.
This move wouldn’t have been possible without the help of 28 outstanding student volunteers from Kansas State University’s TRiO Upward Bound program. These students traveled from Salina and surrounding areas to lend a hand—and despite a booming thunderstorm, they helped us move and reorganize hundreds of items with enthusiasm and care.
Over the course of the evening, volunteers moved 190 empty boxes, 170 full boxes, and a long list of bulky items—including shelving units, book carts, tables, chairs, a file cabinet, flat carts, and even a set of rolling stairs. It was a massive team effort, and their hard work helped us accomplish in one evening what would have taken us days.
Upward Bound is a federally funded college preparation program that supports high school students in achieving their postsecondary goals. The program provides academic enrichment, personal mentoring, and guidance on college applications, financial aid, and scholarships.
The students who helped us came from schools across the region, including Clay Center Community High School, Clay Center; Ell-Saline Middle-High School, Brookville; Lincoln Junior and Senior High School, Lincoln; and Newton High School, Newton. Throughout the Summer Upward Bound students participate in rigorous academic programming—and community service projects like ours.
Why This Move Mattered
Our previous sorting space—though carefully organized—was significantly smaller, and it limited how many volunteers could work comfortably at once. With donations coming in year-round and sorting happening continuously behind the scenes, we’ve long needed a space that allowed for more flexibility and breathing room.
This newly opened area offers just that. Volunteers will now be able to spread out, sort and process donations more efficiently, and better prepare materials for both ongoing sales at Rosie’s Corner and our annual book sale in the spring. It’s a simple change, but a meaningful one—and the result will be felt by our library supporters and shoppers all year long.
We’re so grateful to the Upward Bound volunteers who made this transition possible. Your time, effort, and energy were a gift to our team—and a reminder of how powerful community support can be.
