Volunteer

Is it time to get involved with your community? To give back? To share your skills? To push yourself to try something new?   

We have volunteer program partners from all walks and stages of life. They volunteer for all kinds of reasons, but they all choose the Library because they love what we stand for: free access to information, a chance to connect with the community, and a place to learn and create. If you want to become a part of this mission and part of the Tompkins County Public Library team, read on.

Below is a sample of program partner and volunteer job opportunities. This list is not exhaustive, and Library staff is always open to hearing proposals for how your special skills may be able to help the community through special programs. 

• Tech Tutors
• Library Makers
• Adopt-a-shelf, shelf reading, and shelf "fronting"
• Special events volunteers (as needed)

Please fill out a volunteer application and library staff will contact you if there is a good fit between library needs and your qualifications and availability. 

Note: 

All volunteers are required to read, understand, and sign the following:

• Code of Conduct
• Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
• Workplace Harassment Prevention Policy

Volunteers must also provide contact information for themselves as well as an emergency contact.

Applicants must be at least 14 years old to volunteer and compliant with New York State labor laws. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian co-sign the volunteer application and provide working papers. 

Can I just walk in and start volunteering?
Unfortunately, no. All volunteers must complete an application and be interviewed by a coordinating staff member before they are accepted as a volunteer. 

Can I sort and shelve books?
No. Sorting and shelving books is a duty assigned to library staff through collective bargaining and civil service law. Unpaid volunteers are not allowed to complete any tasks included in civil service job descriptions of paid staff.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Applicants must be at least 14 years old to volunteer. Those under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian co-sign the volunteer application and provide working papers.

The court is requiring me to do community service. Do you accept this type of volunteer?
At this time TCPL is unable to oversee community service hour volunteers.

Do I get paid?
No, the library does not pay volunteers for their service. Those interested in a paid positions at TCPL are welcome to apply through Tompkins County Civil Service.

Can I be turned down or terminated?
Yes, the library reserves the right to not accept a volunteer request. There are a variety of reasons why this may be the case:

• The applicant may not possess the skills we need for the service we need.
• The applicant may have committed a recent violent crime that we feel may put library patrons or staff at risk.
• The applicant is a persona non grata.
• The applicant/volunteer has not adhered to our library's code of conduct.
• A volunteer who calls out from three volunteer shifts within a two-month period will not be able to continue volunteering for at least six months.

How can I identify a volunteer in the library?

Volunteer program partners have nametags that identify them as volunteers.

I am unable to volunteer, but I want to help Tompkins County Public Library. What can I do?

There are ways to help support TCPL’s mission of fostering opportunities for people of all ages to discover, connect, and create.

• The Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library accepts physical media for its semiannual book sale, which benefits TCPL, the Finger Lakes Library System and educational and literacy focused groups throughout Tompkins County. You can help by donating items to the sale, shopping at the sale, buying a Friends of the Library tote bag (available at the Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk), or by becoming a member! Learn more about the Friends at www.friendsoftcpl.org and learn more about the semiannual book sale at www.booksale.org.

• The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation accepts financial donations which benefit TCPL’s collections and programming. You can make a donation on their website, www.tcplfoundation.org or by using "Ezra Coin-ell," a secure donation kiosk which can accept cash or bank card, located near the Library's main entrance and the Library of Things. The Foundation also holds special ticketed events such as the ultimate introvert's outing, the Silent Reading Party, as well as its annual READATHON. You can also set up recurring gifts, tributes, endowed funds, adopt-a-periodical, or include the Foundation in your final wishes.
• You can also help libraries and literacy by supporting advocacy groups like the American Library Association and the New York Library Association.
• And the easiest way to help is to use library services! The library and all its assets exist to be used, and our funding is based in part on how much use our community gets from our services. Everyone is welcome at TCPL, and all library programs are free.