Of course! If you do not have a library card with us, or do not live in the City of Oak Ridge, you are still welcome to use our services. You can use our Wi-Fi, attend our programs, schedule a reference appointment, and read books, magazines, and newspapers inside the library. We even have “On-Your-Honor” books that you can take home and bring back when you are done. Just ask at the front desk!

Service dogs are welcome in the library. We host H. A. B. I. T. (Human Animal Bond in Tennessee) dogs in the Children’s Room, so you may see dogs with red bandanas in the library. While we love animals, we are unfortunately not able to accommodate emotional support animals and other pets.

You can bring drinks that have a tightly fitting lid and pre-packaged snacks into the library. We ask that you do not take your drink with you into the Children’s Room, the stacks, next to the computers, or into the Oak Ridge Room.

You can check out any library materials from the Children’s Room and the Main Library, no matter how old you are. The Children’s Room provides books written for younger readers, from babies to middle schoolers. The Main Library houses books for teens and up.

Yes! Our Wi-Fi is called ORPublic2 and is accessible at the library, in our parking lot, and in A. K. Bissell Park.

We have public computers that are available to anyone coming into the library. If you have a library card, there is no time limit. If you do not have a card, you can use our public computers for free for up to 2 hours.

We have mobile hotspots that check out for up to one week. Hotspots are in high demand, so make sure to plan ahead if you think you’ll want to check one out.

We have a handful of laptops that you can check out with your library card for use inside the library. Laptops check out for 2 hours.

Yes, our computers are connected to a printer behind the Main Desk. Prints are $0.10 a page for black and white and $0.40 a page for color. We can only print one-sided prints.

We currently cannot fax at the library, but we do have a scanner that will send scanned documents via email. Scanning is free!

We do offer mobile printing for $0.10 a page for black and white or $0.40 a page for color. You can send something from your phone, tablet, laptop, or even from your home computer using Princh. Just pick up your prints within 24 hours!

Our copy machine is located near the circulation desk. Copies are $0.10 a page for black and white or $0.40 a page for color. We have a coin machine to the right of the copy machine.

Yes! The library has a scanner that will send scanned documents via email. There is no charge for scanning a document.

We do not offer notary public services at this time, but we can point you to somewhere that does.

We have the 1040 and 1040-SR form and instruction books freely available. You can get them at the main desk, or from one of the form-holders we place near the outside book-drop and library entrance during tax season. If you need any other forms, we can print them off for you for $0.10 a page.

While the library does not offer tax assistance, we can point you in the direction of organizations that do.

We have Voter Registration forms available at the Main Desk for patrons to fill out, mail in or drop off. Library staff will mail forms, but please be aware of registration deadlines.

You can find the following programs and events at the library:

• Storytime
• Mother Goose
• Sensory-Friendly Story Group
• Teen Space
• Mix-It-Up Mondays
• World Wise Wednesdays
• Book Sales
• Ruff Reading
• Our annual Summer Reading Programs

The Friends of Oak Ridge Public Library holds books sales at various times throughout the year. Book sales will be announced on our social media pages and will be listed on our event calendar. Friends of ORPL also manage the Book Nook where gently used books are always available to purchase.

To rent out the Library’s Auditorium, please visit our Auditorium Reservations Page or contact us at (865) 425-3455.

Yes! Reserve a display case here.

While we don’t have private rooms or study rooms, we do have study carrels with power outlets and tables out in the main library that you can use.

We also have a glassed-in meeting room located at the back of the library that is available to be reserved no more than seven days in advance for up to two hours at a time. For more information, and to reserve this room, visit our Meeting Room Reservation Page.

You can get a library card at any age. Click here for more information about signing up for a library card.

We have two book drops: one inside and one outside.

The inside drop is located in the Main Library in our business center, between the two bulletin boards. The outside book drop is a drive-up drop located on the access road as you are leaving the library parking lot.

The outside book drop is closed on federal holidays and Summer Sundays.

We have books available in English and Spanish in the Main Library. Other languages may be available digitally through Libby and Hoopla.

We no longer charge overdue fees for materials that are returned late. Additionally, the library will automatically renew eligible items that have not been returned if the item does not have a hold. However, once an item is overdue, you will not be able to check out other materials or use a computer until the item is returned. Patrons will still be charged for lost or damaged items.

We are no longer able to accept replacement copies for items that are lost or damaged. When a book is lost or damaged, the patron will be charged the cost of the original item plus a processing fee.

We currently only take cash or check.

We don’t accept online payments at this time.

We do accept book donations. Click here to learn how to donate your books.

Receipts for your donations are available at the Main Desk upon request. Your receipt will only include the number of books you donated and the date we received the donation.

We do have public bulletin boards located in the library’s business center. Please bring your flyers to the front desk to be submitted for approval.

The singular purpose of the Oak Ridge Public Library social media sites is to promote library programs, services, events, and city-sponsored content that may be of interest to library users.

The library maintains the city’s Community Calendar. This calendar is volunteer-run and is updated once a week, generally on Mondays. Interested in posting your event? Submit it here.

The library maintains an Organization Directory which is hosted on the city’s website. Don’t see your organization on this list? Submit it here.