The Library welcomes volunteers who are able to help Library staff perform some necessary and ancillary services.
Volunteer opportunities for adults:
Books for the Homebound – Drop off and pick up library materials for patrons who are homebound.
In the Library – Help shelve, organize and clean materials, prepare craft materials, read and straighten shelves, clean computer monitors and keyboards, and make photocopies. Volunteers may not work at public service desks.
Volunteer opportunities for teens and adults:
Children's Festival of Reading – Help us celebrate the beginning of summer and the joy of reading at this annual celebration. Volunteers are needed to assist staff at booths and performance stages, helping children with arts and crafts, face painting, set-up and breakdown and more.
Imagination Library – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. We need volunteers to help at registration booths, special events (including Boo at the Zoo), and a host of other Imagination Library-sponsored activities.
Basic rules
- All potential volunteers must fill out the appropriate application (see buttons below).
- Applicants wanting to volunteer in the library should submit their applications to the location at which they wish to work.
- Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. Exceptions may be made for short term projects such as those required of Girl and Boy Scouts.
- Applicants under 17 must have parental approval.
- Volunteers must have a Library card that is in good standing.
- Volunteers are bound by the same rules as Knox County Public Library staff, including its dress code.
- Volunteers work at-will and can be terminated at any time for any reason.
- Library volunteers are covered by the Library’s Property and Liability Insurance policy.
- Volunteers must wear a Volunteer badge.
- Volunteers must commit to at least 3 hours of service per month.
- Volunteer timesheets will be kept and hours submitted for the Library’s Monthly Report.
- Volunteers who average 3 hours a month for six months are excused from library fines and fees up to $10.00 per year.
- Volunteers may not sit at public desks or use staff computers.
- Potential volunteers will be checked against Tennessee's Sex Offender Registry. Volunteers working directly with minors may be asked to submit to a background check.
- Due to labor law restrictions, Knox County employees may not volunteer at the Library.
- Volunteer applications will be kept on file for 1 year.
Community service workers
The Library does not use court-ordered community service volunteers.
Applications
General Volunteer Application – Print, complete, and apply in person at the location where you wish to work.