Volunteer With Us

General

  • Additional volunteer forms may be required to be filled out and submitted depending on the age of the applicant.
  • All personal information concerning the Volunteer is for internal use only.
  • Each Volunteer is required to wear a Volunteer badge.
  • It is important to be friendly, since contact with the public is frequent. You may be a patron’s first contact in the library.
  • No cell phones or texting while performing volunteer duties.
  • The services of Volunteers supplement but do not replace the work done by library staff. Volunteer duties do not include checking out materials, working behind the desks in any department, or answering the telephones.
  • Special accommodations will be made upon request.
  • The staff lounge is not available to Volunteers.
  • Volunteer activities may vary for Volunteers between the ages of 14 years old and 18 years old.
  • Volunteers are expected to act in accordance with library policies to perform the Volunteer activities to the best of their abilities.
  • Volunteers are recognized as contributors to the goals and services of the Library.
  • Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all library information as provided for under Tennessee Law. Failure to maintain confidentiality will result in immediate termination of the library’s association with the Volunteer.
  • Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older.
  • Volunteers shall not be asked or directed to establish and maintain new library services.
  • Volunteers should expect to fulfill their volunteer commitment with the Library.
  • Volunteers will make note of task and time donated in the Volunteer Notebook.
  • Volunteers will not be expected to do perform any task that staff would not be asked to do.
  • Volunteers will not be used to replace or reduce the number of paid staff.

Training

  • Based on your experience, training, interests, and the needs of the library, you will be assigned work in one of the library departments. You will be assigned a supervisor who will work out a schedule with you.
  • A basic knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System classification system, for which you will be given some training, is required for shelving materials.
  • Feel free to ask questions of the staff person to whom you have been assigned.
  • If the task you have been assigned does not appeal to you, contact the Assistant Library Director and Volunteer Coordinator, for possible reassignment to alternate tasks.
  • A name tag will be provided for you to wear while you are volunteering.
  • Please sign the volunteer logs in the departments for our records.
  • Regularly scheduled Volunteer Training includes a short amount of time on library computers to introduce you to the library catalog. A tour of the library and an explanation of the shelving layout will be provided.

Dress Code

The following items cannot be worn while volunteering:

  • Flip flops (closed toe shoes are preferred)
  • Halter or strapless tops
  • Jeans with holes
  • Shirts with slogans
  • Short shorts
  • Short skirts

Scheduling

Scheduling is arranged with the Library Manager or Supervisor at the time of acceptance of a Volunteer. A Volunteer’s availability may affect the tasks that are assigned.

Volunteers are scheduled for a minimum 2 hour shift and a maximum 4 hour shift during library hours. Exceptions are made only by the approval of the Library Director.

Supervision

Volunteers will work directly with library staff members to receive training and complete projects. All Volunteers will be assigned one primary staff member to guide them in their work; however, staff members may offer guidance to any of the Volunteers. 

Volunteers are expected to arrive at the library in time to begin volunteer activities as scheduled or to inform the library if they will be absent. All Volunteer activities must be completed within normal library hours. Volunteers are expected to fill out a log in the Departmental Volunteer Notebook that documents the time and description of any task performed.