By Paul Leach
Correspondent
DUCKTOWN, Tenn. – Polk County’s Friends of the Library group has paid for a full-time Americorps worker through Appalachia CARES to assist library workers.
Josh Voyles, a recent Copper Basin High School graduate, began the one-year position in August. In addition to assisting patrons and shelving materials, Mr. Voyles will be responsible for automating the collections of the Benton and Ducktown libraries.
“We have the perfect person,” library board head Sheppie Dunn said. “He’s knowledgeable about libraries and computers, so we need him.”
Mr. Voyles worked in his high school library for three years and is working on a double major in English and education at Cleveland State Community College. He receives a stipend for his work and is eligible for an Americorps Education Award of up to $5,350.
“I jumped all over it because, for one, it’s a library (and) I get to interact with people,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade it.”
Friends board member Jenny Rogers said group members “thought the Americorps position would be a wise investment.”
She said the friends group is funding computers and software necessary for automating the library catalog circulation. The task will require more time than current staff can give, considering their normal workload, she said.
Mrs. Rogers said she believes Mr. Voyles’ experience and skills are a good fit for the upcoming automation project. He estimated the library collections contain between 5,500 and 6,000 items.
Americorps requires that its workers create three service-learning projects on top of their assigned tasks. In Mr. Voyles’ case, he already has started a book-of-the-month discussion group at Copper Basin High School that is coordinated through the school’s learning center. Some meetings will incorporate guest speakers and field trips.
He has plans to launch a similar program for adults at the library and is considering a story and crafts time for youngsters, he said.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. E-mail him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.