NILES — Shelf Life Community Bookstore, 223 N. Fourth St. in Niles, is looking for volunteers to help with its operations so that the business can extend its hours and serve more customers and book lovers.

The bookstore is operated solely by volunteers and raises funds for the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority and the Niles District Library. Books are donated by the library, community and Better World Books.

April Gargis, the volunteer manager, said the store can work around personal schedules.

“Volunteers can donate time when it is most convenient for them,” she said. “That may mean three or four hours on a Saturday or Sunday or a couple hours after work during the week.”

Retirees and those with flexible schedules are especially welcome.

Duties include staffing the front desk and accepting payment for books. When books are donated, volunteers may do some shelving of books. No heavy lifting is required.

Shelf Life provides an orientation and assigns new volunteers to work with more experienced staff for the first two or three shifts.

As a thanks to the volunteers, free books are offered for the time donated. For each hour worked, a volunteer can choose a book of his or her choice to take home.

To obtain a volunteer application form, stop by Shelf Life during its regular business hours.

The store is open:

• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

• Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday