State guide
Tennessee
Tennessee’s state library agency is the Tennessee State Library & Archives, part of the Secretary of State’s office. On the official pages found, TSLA offers interlibrary loan to libraries and maintains the Tennessee Public Library Directory, but I did not find a statewide book-club-kit or book-club-in-a-bag program page.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State library agency
- Tennessee State Library & Archives
- Statewide book club kit program
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- Interlibrary loan
- TSLA lends through interlibrary loan only to public and academic libraries; requests may be sent by ALA form email, OCLC (TNS), or AGENT, and patrons must use TSLA materials inside the borrowing library.
Official resources in Tennessee
Official state library and archives home for Tennessee library services, grants, research, and statewide resources.
Search the State Library & Archives catalog, including Tennessee-related materials and microfilm holdings.
Official directory of Tennessee public libraries and systems.
Official TSLA ILL instructions page surfaced in Secretary of State search results, including who may borrow and request methods.
Key facts for Tennessee
- TSLA interlibrary loans are made only to public and academic libraries, not to individuals.
- Tennessee libraries may submit TSLA ILL requests by completed ALA form email, OCLC code TNS, or AGENT.
- TSLA says loaned materials may not leave the borrowing library; patrons must use them there.
- TSLA says it will not loan books or published materials more than 80 years old.
- Nashville Public Library’s Book Club in a Bag kits include 10 copies, discussion questions, an author biography, and tips for starting a club.
- Johnson City Public Library’s Traveling Tales kits check out for eight weeks and include up to 12 copies plus a discussion folder.
Libraries that lend book club kits in Tennessee
| Library | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville Public Library — Book Club in a Bag Davidson County | Nashville | Not published* | Systemwide kits include 10 copies, discussion questions, an author biography, and tips for starting a successful book club. |
| Nashville Public Library — Book Clubs Davidson County | Nashville | Not published* | Systemwide page for library-run book clubs, including the Book Club in a Bag collection and branch discussions. |
| Memphis Public Libraries — Books in a Bag Shelby County | Memphis | Not published* | Book-club bags include 10 copies of one title plus background materials, author biography, discussion questions, and startup advice. |
| Memphis Public Libraries — Library Book Clubs Shelby County | Memphis | Not published* | Directory of branch book clubs and meeting information across the Memphis system. |
| Johnson City Public Library — Traveling Tales Washington County | Johnson City | (423) 434-4454 | Traveling Tales kits provide everything needed to start a discussion group, with up to 12 copies and an eight-week checkout. |
| Chattanooga Public Library — Book Club in a Bag Hamilton County | Chattanooga | Not published* | Systemwide tote-bag kits contain 10 copies and club materials; bags check out for six weeks and are not renewable. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If your local Tennessee library does not own a title, ask staff to request it from TSLA through interlibrary loan rather than contacting TSLA as an individual borrower.
- Use the Tennessee Public Library Directory to identify the nearest system that already offers book-club kits or public book clubs.
- For Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Johnson City, check the library’s dedicated book-club or kit page before placing holds because checkout rules differ by system.
Not seeing your library or county?
We list a library only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Tennessee, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Tennessee's population center, for comparison only):
- Warren County Public Library KDLA Kits, Kentucky · about 79 miles
- Madison Public Library, Alabama · about 82 miles
- Henderson County Public Library Book Club Kit Request, Kentucky · about 156 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.TSLA public catalog
Website →Phone: (615) 741-2764 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Tennessee page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What is a library book club kit?
- How to borrow a book club kit from your library
- How to start a book club at your library
- Using interlibrary loan for your book club