Volunteer Opportunities From: PENCIL Connect

Metro Nashville Public Schools is hosting its 2nd Annual MNPS Elementary Music Festival where all of the Elementary Schools come together to produce one concert. This year's event will be hosted on January 28th at Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). Months of planning goes into this festival, and we are seeking 10 volunteers to help us make this day a huge success!

Event Agenda

7:30 am Call Time8:00 am - 12:00 pm Shift #112:00 pm Lunch on Site1:00 pm to 4 pm Shift #2

Volunteers may stay the full day or sign up for shifts.

Parking directions will be given after signing up. We have a discount code for McKendree Parking lot, near the Downtown Public Library.

For questions, please contact Kara Kindall at Kkindall@mnps.org or 6159443630.

Book Buddies is a dynamic book club that fosters literacy among MNPS students at the Juvenile Detention Center by providing access to high-quality, relevant reading materials and creating meaningful connections with members of the Nashville community to inspire a lifelong love of reading. 

Book: Long Way Down (graphic novel version) by Jason Reynolds 

Book Buddies will need to pick up a copy of the book the week of January 5, 2026, begin reading and complete the introductory infographic. Students will receive their copy of the book and their buddy's infographic on January 15, 2026. Book Buddies will last 4-5 weeks. The schedule is subject to change. 

A free copy of the book is available for every buddy, courtesy of the Parnassus Foundation. Information will be sent to book buddies about how to pick up their free copy. Book buddies are welcome to purchase their own copy, if they prefer. 

Buddies needed: 50 (We aim to pair each student with their own buddy.) 

Buddy responsibilities: 

·                  Complete the introductory infographic to introduce yourself to your student reading buddy. This will be sent directly to you. 

·                  Read the book according to the weekly schedule. 

·                  Read your student buddy’s response to the prompts and send a short video recording in which you respond to your student buddy’s thoughts about the reading and include your own thoughts as well.  

·                  Follow the established timeline and procedure for providing a video response. Information on sharing your video will be sent to you. Buddies will not meet with students in person. 

 

Adult book buddies will only correspond with their student through recorded video and written responses sent to the MNPS School Health team. Book buddies will not be meeting with students in person. 

 

For more information, please contact Lindsey Kimery, Coordinator or Library Services via email at lindsey.kimery@mnps.org.

We are seeking volunteers (18+) to assist in our school libraries with weekly shelving and collection maintenance. We also need volunteers willing to help on occasion with special projects. Volunteers must complete and pass a background check before participating. Upon Registration, you will receive a secondary email asking for more information about your interest. Please check your email. 

Once registration is complete, you'll be matched with a school in need as a Volunteer or Special Project Volunteer.

Volunteers commit to a regular schedule for volunteering to help shelve books, inventory new arrivals, and help with unboxing of new materials. Special Project Volunteers will be contacted as needs arise to assist with collection inventory and relocation.

En Espanol:

Buscamos voluntarios (mayores de 18 años) para ayudar en nuestras bibliotecas escolares con el mantenimiento semanal de estanterías y colecciones. También necesitamos voluntarios dispuestos a ayudar ocasionalmente en proyectos especiales. Los voluntarios deben completar y pasar una verificación de antecedentes antes de participar. Al registrarse, recibirá un correo electrónico secundario solicitando más información sobre su interés. Por favor, compruebe su correo electrónico. 

Una vez completado el registro, se le asignará una escuela necesitada como Voluntario o Voluntario de Proyectos Especiales.

Los voluntarios se comprometen a cumplir un horario regular para ayudar a archivar los libros, hacer inventario de los recién llegados y ayudar a desembalar los nuevos materiales. Los voluntarios de proyectos especiales serán contactados cuando surjan necesidades para ayudar con el inventario y la reubicación de la colección.

Event Agenda:

Tasks, such has unpacking new books and assisting with collection moves, may require lifting 10-20 lbs.

Volunteers will not be working directly with students.

For more information, please contact Lindsey Kimery, Coordinator or Library Services via email at lindsey.kimery@mnps.org. 

En Espanol:

Las tareas, como desembalar libros nuevos y ayudar a trasladar colecciones, pueden requerir levantar de 10 a 20 libras.

Los voluntarios no trabajarán directamente con los estudiantes.

Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto con Lindsey Kimery, Coordinadora de Servicios Bibliotecarios, por correo electrónico en lindsey.kimery@mnps.org .