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.

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.