Adult Volunteer Opportunities link
Our most valued volunteer candidates are those that enjoy interacting with the general public and providing great customer service.
Please choose one or more of the available volunteer opportunities listed below. New opportunities are regularly posted to this page, so please check back if there is not currently an open opportunity that matches your skills and interests.
Don't see a volunteer position for you?
Please contact Volunteer Services Coordinator Paul Lopez at 512-974-7443 or APL.Volunteers@austintexas.gov and tell us what you want to do. We will see if this potential volunteer position supports the Austin Public Library commitment to our community.
Austin History Center
Austin History Center link
RE-OPENING INFORMATION: The Austin History Center (800 Guadalupe St.) is a part of the Austin Public Library system. The History Center recently moved to a new, larger building and they are seeking to expand their volunteer pool to coincide with the grand re-opening. There are several positions available. The History Center will open to the public on October 9, 2025, with new operating hours Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Current needs:
2nd floor Welcome Desk:
Duties will entail welcoming second-floor visitors, directing them to our Conference Room or Reading Room, and assisting researchers getting checked in (sharing basic policies and procedures and information about reference services). Staffing the Welcome Desk won't necessitate continual interfacing with the public so there's potential to work on other projects during lulls between customer interactions.
- Thursdays - 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (pending)
1st floor Docent:
Our first-floor lobby docents introduce visitors to the AHC and our exhibit. Duties will entail welcoming visitors, giving exhibit tours upon request, answering basic questions about Austin history, and pointing people to nearby historical sites, area attractions, and libraries in the area.
- Thursdays - 11:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2:20 p.m.-5:10 p.m.
- Fridays - 11:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2:20 p.m.-5:10 p.m.
- Saturdays - 11:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (position pending)
Austin Files organization and Family Archiving Box construction support for Community Archives Team:
Assist Community Archives work (two hours per week, on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, every week for 2-3 months, starting October), including organizing Austin Files materials, constructing Family Archiving Boxes for workshop or event preparation. Tasks include: Austin Files organization (print materials, sort articles according to Austin Files Subject, hand write Austin Files Subject number on articles, organize folders and files in the cabinet), Family Archiving Box construction (prepare items that go into Family Archiving Box, sort them in order and place them inside a folder, put folders in Archival Box with a guidebook), and Event Preparation (help inventory and organize supply closet, prepare family outreach items and pack for travel, breakdown after event).
- No opportunities at this time.
Disability Dialogues Book Club
Disability Dialogues Book Club link
Our Disability Dialogues Book Club meets once a month to discuss chosen books in a safe and understanding group setting. We are seeking a volunteer to co-facilitate this book club with a staff member; specifically a volunteer who is passionate about disability advocacy and has excellent customer skills. Reading the book each month would count as volunteer time, as well.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- 2nd Saturday of the month - 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (pending)
Felt Storyboard Maker
Felt Storyboard Maker link
At the Austin Public Library, some of our Storytime programs include a Felt Storyboard component. These storyboards are handcrafted and are meant to engage our Storytime participants in a different way than "typical" Storytimes. Our volunteer Felt Storyboard Makers follow designs using standard crafting tools and materials to handcraft stories that will then be included with our programming. We are seeking craft-oriented volunteers to put together these Felt Storyboards, that will then be presented by our youth librarians.
Current needs:
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S. Fifth St.
- Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, or Saturday afternoon (position pending)
Central Library Programs and Events Volunteer Pool
Central Library Programs and Events Volunteer Pool link
Our Central Library programming and events team is looking for additions to their Central Library volunteer pool. These volunteers would help out with programming and events at the Central Library that come up about once a month or more. These volunteers are requested to be familiar with the Central Library layout, be prepared to provide excellent customer service, and be flexible to an array of tasks at any given program or event. Volunteers who can walk or take the bus are most preferred to leave plenty of room in our parking lot for event attendees.
Current needs:
- Now accepting applications!
Board Game Bash at the Library Program Assistant
Board Game Bash at the Library Program Assistant link
This volunteer position is a six month commitment to co-facilitating our Board Game Bashat the Library Program. We are looking for volunteers who have experience with many types of board games, including adult games (cooperative, strategy, resource management). Some examples include Ticket to Ride, Tesseract, Harmonies, Forbidden Island, Robo Rally, Azul, Splendor, and Skull. This volunteer role seeks someone with customer service experience, who is comfortable leading attendees in learning to play games and playing with attendees as needed. We are excited to take on a volunteer who is enthusiastic about games!
Current needs:
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month - 5:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m. (position pending)
ASL Practice Leader - Assistance with an American Sign Language Conversational Program
ASL Practice Leader - Assistance with an American Sign Language Conversational Program link
Volunteer instructors help lead Austin Public Library's ASL Practice program, which is offered free to the public. It is an opportunity for library customers eager to develop stronger conversational ASL to be able to do so in a safe environment. Volunteers must be fluent in conversational ASL.
Current needs:
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S. 5th St.
- Thursdays 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master for Tweens/Teens D&D
Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master for Tweens/Teens D&D link
Some branches of the Austin Public Library host Dungeons & Dragons programming for tweens and teens. We are looking for adult volunteers who can help be Dungeon Masters for our programming. Volunteers must have experience both playing D&D and being a DM.
Current needs:
Little Walnut Creek Branch | 835 W. Rundberg Ln.
- Third Saturday of the month, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (position pending)
After School Tween Activity & Crafting Assistance
After School Tween Activity & Crafting Assistance link
Our after school programs are offered for free to our tweens and teens. Volunteers primarily assist our after school programs with structured crafting activities and programs. This position requires previous experience working with youth and some general knowledge on various types of crafting.
Current needs:
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S. Fifth St.
- Wednesdays - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (position pending)
Seed Collection Assistant
Seed Collection Assistant link
Many of our branches host a Seed Collection. Our Seed Collection is a repository and exchange system for seeds of land race, heirloom, locally adapted and native varieties of fruits and vegetable, and other useful plants in Central Texas. Everyone is welcome to check out seeds from the collection and return seeds from their harvest to keep the collection growing. Some of our Seed Collections are organized, maintained, and managed by volunteers. This is a weekly volunteer position, which includes co-hosting Seed Gatherings at the branch once a month. Knowledge on gardening is a request.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Saturdays - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (position pending)
Storytime Assistant
Storytime Assistant link
Our Storytimes are one of the most popular things the Austin Public Library offers to the public. We are seeking volunteers to help make our Storytimes continue to be a successful part of what we offer to the public. Volunteer duties include set up, customer service, assisting youth librarians, passing out supplemental materials, take down, and other duties as assigned. Please note that the actual Storytime reading/performing is done by the youth librarians.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Mondays - 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (position pending)
Branch Circulation
Branch Circulation link
Our circulation volunteers help with all things circulation in our branches. This includes customer service, putting items back on shelves, pulling holds, tidying book shelves, and so much more. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 pounds and to bend, stoop, and stretch with or without reasonable accommodations. The position is best suited for those who love to organize and like to work independently. Shifts are two hours with a minimum three month commitment required.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Wednesdays - two hour morning shift (position pending)
- Thursdays - any two hour shift (position pending)
Central Library Children's Room Greeter
Central Library Children's Room Greeter link
The Children's Room at the Central Library is one of the busiest places in all of APL, especially on the weekend. We are seeking highly motivated, go-getter volunteers to assist our Youth Services team to welcome visitors, answer questions, help customers seek youth materials, and other tasks as they arise. This position requires previous experience working with youth.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.