Become a Volunteer at the Austin History Center
Volunteers are the heart of the Austin History Center (AHC). By sharing your time and skills, you help preserve the story of our community and support a vital resource for all Austinites.
Eligibility and Commitment
To ensure a high-quality experience for both volunteers and visitors, we ask that all applicants meet the following criteria:
- Age: You must be 17 years or older at the time of application.
- Time Commitment: Most positions require a 3 to 6-month commitment, typically 2 hours per week.
- Record Keeping: You must be willing to log your hours regularly using the GivePulse database.
Steps to Help Our Team
The onboarding process helps us match your unique talents with the needs of the History Center.
- Submit an Application: Complete your profile via our partner site, GivePulse.
Apply for Adult Volunteer Positions via GivePulse
Apply Here - Screening Interview: Participate in a phone or in-person interview to discuss your interests (please note: interviews do not guarantee placement).
- Background Check: Complete a successful criminal background investigation.
- Orientation: Attend a mandatory volunteer orientation session.
- Placement: Accept an official placement offer and begin your service.
See the Austin Public Library volunteer page for more detail.
Current Opportunities:
Austin History Center Volunteers
Austin History Center Volunteers
As the local history division of the Austin Public Library, the Austin History Center, located downtown (800 Guadalupe St.), provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County. We collect and preserve information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions, and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to our history.
Current needs:
1st floor Docent: Our first-floor lobby docents introduce visitors to the AHC and our exhibit. Duties will entail welcoming visitors, giving exhibits tours upon request, answering basic questions about Austin history, and pointing people to nearby historical sites, area attractions, and libraries in the area. This is a three month commitment.
- No opportunities at this time.
Information Science, Informatics, and Archival Studies Student Volunteer Opportunities: Students pursuing college and graduate level degrees in information science, Informatics, and archival studies often need to complete projects in professional archives under the supervision of staff for coursework requirements. Students pursuing history, preservation, conservation, and other relevant majors are also welcome to apply to volunteer in this capacity.
- Now accepting applications!
The Austin History Center has a limited capacity to work with students needing practical experience for a capstone or practicum course. The time and perspective of students is valuable to us and Austin’s community. We welcome volunteer applications as one step in the process of mentoring and supervising students in a per-semester capacity. For group class projects, faculty should contact the Austin History Center directly for options.
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