A community table may serve several purposes during one afternoon. A sign-up sheet at one end and a display of donated books at the other can work well, provided visitors can understand the difference without asking twice.
Begin by naming the actions. Is somebody supposed to write, take, return, look, or wait? Give each action a small, clearly labelled area. A physical gap between piles can help more than another paragraph of instructions.
Do a quick walk past the table from the direction visitors will approach. Can you tell which materials may be taken away? Does a pen lying across a leaflet make it look like a form? Is the volunteer blocking the label while speaking to somebody?
Changeovers need a moment too
If the table changes purpose halfway through the event, remove the earlier materials before announcing the new activity. Leaving both sets in place can make the old instruction seem current.
Ask the person taking over to explain the arrangement back in their own words. If that takes a long explanation, simplify the table before adding more signs.
A shared surface works best when it offers clear choices. Visitors should be able to approach it for one small task without accidentally enrolling in another.